Rambo-style GAM

Everybody who loves the Republic of Indonesia, be they in the government or in the private sector, becomes uneasy at the sight of separatists equipped with modern and conventional arms. They look like Rambo, and act as if they were in the land of cowboys.

Take the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), for example. Its members show off in front of the cameras, carrying M-16, AK-47 and other heavy weapons. What are they after with these pictures? They want nothing but to exert their existence: these are the bandits ready to fight the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police. They have reportedly gone through intensive training in Libya (the den of bigwig terrorists).

Should we as a nation be frightened at seeing these propaganda pictures, which also show Cut Nyak (women) and underage children? If the government is afraid (this is the bandits' target from the beginning), these bandits will freely lower the red-and-white flag and replace it with their GAM flag. This action will be a model for other regions.

Some separatists in Irian Jaya, for example, hoisted the West Papuan Morning Star flag on Dec. to show that the cadres of the Free Papua Movement are still around and ready to loot the unitary republic (yet relevant government officials say that what has happened in Irian Jaya is still within tolerable limits. Besides, they argue, these Irianese are unarmed).

The only way left for the government is to fight these bandits. President Abdurrahman must take immediate action and instruct TNI and the police to rid the country of these separatist bandits. Do not put the TNI in the dilemma it finds itself in today. If TNI is not allowed to carry out its operation in Aceh, the separatist bandits will win the freedom to chip away at our unitary republic. Has our civilian President any guts at all? Or will the separatist bandits be allowed to freely bring an end to our unitary republic?

Only God knows.

SRI SUGIANTI M

Bekasi, West Java