The arrest of GAM leaders

The Swedish prosecutor's office ordered the arrest of Free Aceh Movement (GAM) leaders Hasan Tiro, Zaini Abdullah and Malik Mahmud on Tuesday (June 15). This should soon end the long war in Aceh, where much of our energy has been spent.

The GAM sees the Indonesian Military (TNI) as an enemy to be fought, while the TNI sees GAM as an enemy of the state that threatens Indonesia's sovereignty. And Aceh is caught in the chaos.

The first ones who fall victim in a war are the people. How many lives have been lost? How many women have been raped?

However, something is particularly unfair in the Aceh conflict. In reality, the leaders of GAM are foreigners. Hasan Tiro and Zaini Abdullah are Swedish nationals, while Malik Mahmud holds a Singapore passport. Thus, the war in Aceh is, in fact, controlled by foreigners.

We, of course, want Tiro and friends to be put on trial soon, to show the world what they have done. The Indonesian Military should likewise take a look at itself. The imposition of the military operation in Aceh during the New Order administration, which left thousands of people dead, traumatized the people and left wounds that are difficult to heal.

For its part, the government must realize that separatism stems from the unfair treatment given by the central government to the provinces. We know that Aceh is rich in natural resources, but most of its earnings have gone to the central government and the Acehnese have remained poor.

Thus, the arrest of Tiro should be seen in the framework of improving the living standards of the Acehnese. Upholding the law in Aceh, humanitarian operations and economic recovery must be given more attention than the military operation. Without these things, the arrest and possible conviction of the GAM leaders will mean nothing. -- Media Indonesia, Jakarta