RI to present Sweden with evidence against GAM
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.