New schedule set for Megawati's visit to Aceh

New schedule set for Megawati's visit to Aceh

JAKARTA (JP): Although President Megawati Soekarnoputri does
not have a clear plan to meet with members of the separatist Free
Aceh Movement (GAM) in her visit to Aceh on Saturday, GAM insists
that a dialog between her and its top leader be held in Sweden to
initiate further dialogs between the two sides.

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said after meeting with the President in
Jakarta on Wednesday that "Ibu will leave for Banda Aceh on
Saturday (in the morning) and will fly back in the evening."

He said that Megawati would meet with Acehnese community
figures, but "it was up to the local administration whether or
not GAM members would participate in the meeting".

GAM spokesman Ayah Sofyan, told The Jakarta Post in Banda Aceh
on Wednesday that if the government of Indonesia wanted to
resolve Aceh's problems thoroughly, dialogs between the
government and GAM must be initiated by a meeting between
Megawati and the GAM leader living in Sweden.

Sofyan is the spokesman for GAM in Aceh Rayeuk, which covers
Banda Aceh and the regency of Aceh Besar.

"The talks must take place outside the country and be
supervised by a neutral party because Indonesia and Aceh must sit
as two sovereign countries in the dialog."

Hasan Muhammad Tiro, known as Hasan Tiro or Hasan di Tiro, is
the GAM top leader living in Sweden, and is extremely popular
among Acehnese. Born in 1923, Hasan lives in an Acehnese
community in the town of Nodsborg, some 20 kilometers south of
Stockholm. He has been the president of the Aceh Sumatra National
Liberation Front (ASNFL), or GAM, since 1976.

Hasan di Tiro declared "Aceh's independence" on Dec. 4, 1976.

Megawati changed her schedule to visit the restive province
twice for unclear reasons before Susilo announced the final
decision on Wednesday.

Indonesian Military and National Police will provide maximum
security for the President's visit, Susilo said.

Ayah Sofyan said Megawati could not hold talks with any
Acehnese figure in her attempt to solve the province's problems.

"Talks with groups of people, who claim to be Acehnese
figures, are not valid," he said, adding that GAM could not trust
anyone or any parties, except its top leader in Sweden, for
dialogs with Indonesia.

Rector of Syiah Kuala University in Banda Aceh Dayan Dawood
and chairman of the Muhammadiyah chapter of Aceh Teungku Imam
Suja' offered to mediate a dialog between GAM and Indonesia.

Sofyan refused the offer, saying that GAM and Indonesia must
sit as two sovereign states in the talks. "Therefore, the
mediator must be an independent party."

Chairman of the second largest Muslim organization
Muhammadiyah Syafii Ma'arif suggested here on Wednesday that
Megawati cancel her trip to Aceh "if it is only a short visit".

"She should learn to take Aceh's problems seriously before
visiting the province."

Despite the President's plan to visit Aceh, killing continued
in the troubled province.

A 40-year-old teacher was found dead on Tuesday in North Aceh
with gunshot wounds to her head and chest, police confirmed on
Wednesday.

A member of the provincial legislative council (DPRD),
Sulaiman Ishak, was killed on Sept. 1.

The volatile situation has led to the departure of other
councillors, while the government has accused GAM of being behind
the terrorism.

Ayah Sofyan strongly denied the accusation, saying that the
councillors feared the operation conducted by the Indonesian
Military and police intelligence. "They kill anybody who they
think are Acehnese figures, like Sulaiman."

GAM has also denied attacking a vessel transporting coal, the
Ocean Silver, in the Straits of Malacca on Aug. 25. The attackers
are holding six of the 12 crew members hostage and demanding Rp
300 million in ransom.

Meanwhile, AFP reported from Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday that
Malaysia would intensify patrols in the Straits of Malacca after
threats of an attack by separatist guerrillas in Aceh.

The marine police will ensure vessels in the straits -- one of
the world's busiest shipping lanes -- are safe, transport
ministry parliamentary secretary Donald Lim told The Star
newspaper.

GAM warned on Monday that ships using the Malacca Straits off
Aceh's east coast should "seek permission" from the separatist
group, AFP reported. (dja/50/44/sur)