RI to present Sweden with evidence against GAM
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The government is preparing a last ditch effort to convince Sweden of a series of crimes linked to leaders of the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) now residing there.
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Tuesday that Jakarta would submit court documents detailing terrorist acts conducted by GAM members upon instructions from their leaders.
"The documents show a clear link between bombings ordered by GAM leaders in Sweden. This is concrete proof," Susilo said after chairing a coordinating meeting of ministers dealing with political and security affairs.
Indonesia had earlier asked Sweden to take stern measures against GAM leaders Hasan Tiro, Zaini Abdullah and Malik Mahmood, for leading a secessionist movement in the country's westernmost province.
Sweden, however, declined to take action against the GAM leaders on the grounds that they had not violated Swedish law.
Law enforcers here have neither charged the three in court, let alone sentenced them to prison, making it almost impossible for Sweden to take action against them. The three GAM leaders are all Swedish citizens.
Sweden, however, had also asked the government to provide solid proof of GAM leaders' involvement in a spate of bombings in Indonesia.
"The proof includes legal and political evidence, noting that Sweden recognizes Hasan Tiro's leadership in the Aceh movement but they don't know if in fact the movement is an armed rebellion," Susilo said.
President Megawati Soekarnoputri decided on Monday to send a team headed by her special envoy Ali Alatas to Sweden to convince its leaders that GAM is a terrorist organization. The team is expected to leave for Sweden later this week.
Susilo said the government would take decisive action if it receives an unfavorable response from Sweden.
"If we continue to receive a negative response from Stockholm it is not impossible that we take drastic action that would affect bilateral relations," Susilo said.
In another development, Swedish Ambassador in Jakarta Harald Sandberg told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday that the embassy was reopened on Tuesday.
"We are pleased with the security guarantee from the Indonesian government," said Sandberg.
The embassy was closed for a number of hours on Monday after receiving an e-mail threat.
Meanwhile, National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said on Tuesday that he had sent a team to Thailand in a bid to pursue Zakaria Zaman, a Swedish national known as GAM's defense minister.
"Indonesia and Thailand have agreed to cooperate on this issue," he said.
The team, consisting of intelligence officer Adj. Sr. Comr. Sitanggang, Comr. Rahmat Basuki of the police transnational crimes division and Sr. Comr. Iskandar Hassan of the National Central Board of Interpol, Indonesia.
"He (Zakaria) entered Thailand using a Singaporean passport and smuggled weapons to Aceh," he added.
So far, Da'i said, friendly countries such as Thailand, Malaysia and several other of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), have agreed to help Indonesia on the issue.
Sweden was one among the first few countries that recognized Indonesia's declaration of independence in 1945.
Sweden is also a member of donor countries grouped in the Consultative Group for Indonesia (CGI). Bilateral trade is valued at US$350 million annually, with several major Swedish companies operating in the country such as telecommunication company Sony- Ericsson and automobile company Volvo.