RI asks Thailand to curb arms smuggling to Aceh

RI asks Thailand to curb arms smuggling to Aceh

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Megawati Soekarnoputri has asked the Thai government to
curb arms smuggling from the country to the war-torn province of
Aceh and ensure that no Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels seek
asylum in Thailand.

During the meeting with Thailand's visiting Minister of
Foreign Affairs Surakiart Sathirathai on Friday, Megawati
specifically asked the Thai government to look into the issues.

"The President appreciates everything that Bangkok has done
regarding the problems, but we hope they can do more," Indonesian
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said after the
meeting.

Hassan said there had been reports of movement of arms from
southern Thailand to Aceh. The weapons were leftover from the
civil war in Cambodia and were sold cheaply.

"We do not question the Thai government's effort to curb the
activities and we will provide information needed to help the
efforts," Hassan said.

Surakiart said his government would make sure nobody under its
territorial jurisdiction would create problem in other countries.

"Our Prime Minister has repeatedly said that we do not allow
anyone to use Thai territory to create any problems in any
country," the visiting minister said after the meeting.

He urged the Indonesian government to provide more information
about the reports of arms' smuggling.

"If there's any evidence or intelligence information about
arms smuggling at all from Thailand let us know. We'll see to it
that it will never take place and anyone involved in it will be
arrested and penalized according to law," he said.

A GAM member has admitted the rebels acquired some weapons
from brokers based in Thailand in exchange for marijuana.

In July last year, police in the southern Thai province of
Satun seized a major cache of weapons and ammunition bound for
rebels in Aceh.

Two suspects were arrested along with 68 AK-47 rifles, five
handguns and ammunition confiscated in the haul.

With the launch of the military operation in Aceh midnight
Monday, aimed at "crushing" the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), Jakarta
has increased its efforts to prevent the smuggling of more
weapons to the province.

The Indonesian Navy has deployed 12 warships to secure the sea
borders of Aceh, to prevent arms smuggling and possible escape of
GAM members to neighboring countries.

During his meeting with Megawati, Surakiart also conveyed Thai
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's support for Indonesia's
policy in Aceh.

"We express our support, political support, for the policy of
the Indonesian government because we do not support the
separatist movement," Surakiart said.

The Thai government also offered more assistance to Indonesia
in dealing with the rebellion in the province.

Thai soldiers joined the international monitoring team of the
Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (COHA) in the province until
its collapse last week.

The 40 Thai soldiers, including Joint Security Committee chief
Maj. Gen. Tanongsuk Tuvinum, have withdrawn from Aceh.