Rebels deny surrender rumors

Ibnu Mat Noor and Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh/Lhokseumawe

Rumors are spreading in Banda Aceh that Free Aceh Movement (GAM) commander Muzakhir Manaf and GAM spokesman Sofyan Dawood, who have been caught in the two-week military siege of their headquarters in North Aceh, have surrendered to the military.

In local dailies on Friday, Army chief Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu was quoted as saying the two GAM leaders had surrendered.

However, both the local military and GAM denied the stories.

Tengku Jamaika, GAM spokesman in North Aceh, while denying the rumors conceded that he had been unable to contact Sofyan Dawood by cellular phone since Thursday afternoon.

Jamaika added that he was not in Cot Trieng, where the GAM leaders have been under siege.

Sofyan Dawood called The Jakarta Post at 12 p.m. on Thursday and insisted that the rebels would never surrender to the military.

The spokesman for the Lilawangsa Military District in Lhokseumawe, Capt. Abrori Abbas, also denied the GAM leaders had surrendered.

"So far no rebels have been arrested or have surrendered," he told the Post.

During a visit to the area on Friday, the chief of the Indonesian Military (TNI)'s general affairs division, Lt. Gen. Djamari Chaniago, gave no indication that Manaf and his armed supporters had surrendered.

The normally quiet Cot Trieng in Nissam subdistrict, a marshy land home to little more than sugarcane and snakes, has been the focus of the country's attention since more than 3,000 soldiers surrounded the area over two weeks ago.

Claiming that Cot Trieng is a base for the armed wing of GAM, the military has established a ring around the entire area.

The siege is aimed at pressuring GAM leaders to surrender and agree to sign a proposed peace agreement before the Idul Fitri holiday, which would hopefully end the prolonged conflict in the province that has claimed tens of thousands of lives.

The marshes of Cot Trieng, locally known as Paya Rayeuk, are eight kilometers long and two kilometers wide.

"GAM troops are hiding in the vast swampy tracts," local military chief A. Y. Nasution told visiting journalists on Wednesday.

The two districts situated next to Cot Trieng are Nisam and Muara Dua. From Muara Dua, Cot Trieng is directly accessible. If traveling from Nisam, one has to pass through the village of Keude Keutapang, five kilometers away, before arriving at Cot Trieng.

Some 200 people from villages in the area have arrived at Keutapang since the military blockade began. They are being accommodated at two Islamic boarding schools.

"Lots of soldiers in our villages have been targeted by GAM members shootings from the marshes," said one resident.

Dozens of fully armed TNI infantrymen are patrolling the villages, confirmed Lt. Col. Oppie Ones, the operation leader.

He said the most intense exchange of gunfire with GAM took place on Nov. 10. The military sent a helicopter and a tank in to overwhelm the rebels, but they managed to escape.

Because the situation remains highly volatile, medical personnel have not been allowed into the villages near Cot Trieng, forcing dozens of children to line up for treatment in Keutapang.

Oppie Ones remains confident that the GAM commander and his rebels are still hiding out in the marshes.

"Nearly all the villagers recognize Muzakhir Manaf, meaning that his mobility is fairly high in this place," he said.

"Our commander is safe," Sofyan Dawood said earlier in the week, denying Muzakir was present in Cot Trieng.

However, the GAM spokesman acknowledged he was caught in the military siege along with hundreds of supporters and civilians. "We won't surrender. Let's see who leaves this area as the loser."

There are no signs that the 18-day siege will end soon, with no indications that the TNI is preparing for a final assault or that GAM is attempting to escape. Both sides seem to have settled into a waiting game.

"We are trying to use persuasion (to get them to surrender)," Lt. Col. Firdaus, spokesman for the Iskandar Muda Military Command, told the Post.

It is difficult to speculate on the number of GAM rebels hiding out in Cot Trieng's harsh marshy terrain, or how long they can hold out against the military siege. There is no question, however, that Oppie Ones and his troops are confident that they will be able to outlast the rebels.