Rambo-style GAM

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