Syafi'ie's murder strengthens GAM spirit 'to fight for free Aceh'
Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The death of Free Aceh Movement (GAM) Commander Tengku Abdullah Syafi'ie, has solidified the separatist movement and increased the guerrillas' will to fight for the independence of Aceh, says GAM spokesman Ayah Sofyan.
"One goes, ten come. The more the military kills rebels, the more Acehnese people will join GAM. Syafi'ie's murder has produced deep sympathy from a majority of Acehnese people and all this has spurred the rebels' fighting spirit," he told The Jakarta Post by telephone here on Thursday.
Ayah said, at a meeting in Pidie regency, that GAM had agreed on Wednesday to appoint GAM Deputy Commander Muzakkir Manaf as new commander to replace Syafi'ie and to begin a seven-day mourning period.
"Acehnese people and leaders, both at home and overseas, have given their full support for Manaf's appointment, as Manaf's leadership has been examined for a long time. All the field commanders are loyal to him," Ayah said.
Manaf, he said, was close to GAM's cabinet-in-exile under Tiro's leadership and had the loyalty of all GAM officials and field commanders.
"Organizationally, he (Manaf) is our new leader -- or commander in Aceh -- and we also have our senior officials who are in exile and our ambassadors who are assigned in countries that recognize GAM, such as Myanmar, Malaysia and several African nations. Despite Syafi'ie's death, GAM remains solid and prepared to fight against the military and police," he said.
He added that the decision was taken after consultation with GAM officials overseas, particularly GAM founder Hasan Tiro who is currently in Sweden.
Syafi'ie's wife Aisyah Hasan and the five bodyguards who were also killed on Tuesday in a firefight with Army soldiers, were buried during a modest funeral ceremony near Syafi'ie's house in Blangsukon Cubo, Bandar Baru Subdistrict in Pidie regency on Thursday.
No GAM officials or field commanders attended the funeral due to security concerns.
However, hundreds of Acehnese people paid their last respects to the commander, his wife and three guards at the funeral.
The two other bodyguards were buried in their home villages in Sigli.
Asked about the Feb. 11 deadline set by Jakarta for a solution to the Aceh issue, Ayah said GAM was ready to dialog, but not with Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh.
"GAM is confused about Jakarta's inconsistent stance on the issue... Jakarta has unilaterally halted the dialog both at home and overseas while it has deployed thousands of soldiers and Mobile Brigade personnel to kill Acehnese people.
"Jakarta should make clear -- peace or war. If it chooses peace, let's go to the negotiating table to make a truce and to seek a peaceful solution to the problem, or if it adversely takes the second choice, GAM is ready for a confrontation," he said.
GAM would continue its fight despite the government's decision to revive the Iskandar Muda military command after its Feb. 11 deadline, he said.
"GAM will never die as long as Aceh still exists. The struggle has won the full support from the Acehnese people, the leaders, the local bureaucracy and the international community. The (central) government should bear in mind that more and more Acehnese civilians will be killed if the military command is revived. And this is evidenced by the killing of more than 6,000 civilians during the military operation over the last nine months," he said.
He declined to mention the total number of GAM members but said it was supported by a majority of Acehnese people who have been unfairly treated by the Indonesian government. "We will surely win the war against (Jakarta's) imperialism," he said.
Sofyan added that GAM would like to go to the negotiating table with mediation from a third party or country, because it had lost confidence in the government and security authorities.
He said the government had admitted to brutal mistreatment of Acehnese people and given many pledges of compensation -- including the massacres during the military operation between 1989 and 1998 -- but none of the pledges were fulfilled.
"GAM won't fall into the government's traps, such as empty pledges or the deadline, and it will instead continue to be well prepared for a worsening situation," he said.
He warned that the special autonomy for Aceh, put into effect by the government on Jan. 1, in addition to the military operation that had claimed thousands of lives, including Syafi'ie's, was not a solution to the Aceh issue.
Separately, Lt. Col. Supartodi, chief of the Pidie Military District, said the local military had data on Muzakkir Manaf and other GAM field commanders including their hiding places in the regency.
He said security personnel would continue their operation to raid GAM's strongholds in the regency. Comments -- Page 2