TNI reeducation for more suspected GAM members

TNI reeducation for more suspected GAM members

Nani Farida , The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh, Nanggroe,
Aceh Darussalam

The martial law administration in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam opened
a "reeducation" course on Sunday for 190 men and 10 women who
have been accused of membership of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).

Aceh military commander Maj. Gen. Endang Suwarya said the
course followed the success of the initial program, which ended
in January, in "rebuilding" the GAM members loyalty to the
Unitary Republic of Indonesia.

"So far, we haven't received reports that any of the
participants in the first program have gone back to GAM," he
said.

The first batch, comprising 438 alleged former GAM members and
supporters, underwent a five-month reeducation course,

The second group of trainees will take part in a similar
course at the Education Quality Institute, formerly known as the
Teacher Training Center, in Neuheun subdistrict, Aceh Besar
regency.

The reeducation program is for alleged GAM members and
supporters who have been captured or had surrendered.

Many of the trainees said they had never held a gun or taken
part in guerrilla attacks on the Indonesian Military (TNI), but
had rather been forced to take part in GAM military training.
Some said they joined under the influence of friends.

Fitri, 22, a former inong balee (local name for GAM's women's
wing) who is participating in the latest reeducation program,
said she gave herself up to Sigli Pidie Military Police upon
hearing that the police had summoned her mother in connection
with her involvement with the rebel group.

Fitri admitted she had participated in marching drill for a
week with GAM in 1999. Afterwards, she got married and moved to
Medan, she said.

"I didn't even remember that I had been involved with the
inong balee until my mother was summoned," said Fitri, who was
detained along with her nine-month-old baby.

The TNI has established two reeducation camps -- one in
Neuheun subdistrict and another in Reuleut subdistrict in North
Aceh. So far, 1,200 former GAM members have attended the training
courses in the two camps.

During the training, the former GAM members are required to
learn about the basic principles of the Indonesian state,
including the state ideology Pancasila, and to sing the national
anthem Indonesia Raya, as well as other patriotic songs.

Acting as mentors are dozens of military and government
officials, who are also supposed to teach the participants
various skills, such as sewing and agricultural skills.

Before returning home, the participants are required to swear
an oath of loyalty to the Unitary Republic of Indonesia.

Although they will be allowed to go home upon completion of
the program, they will be prohibited from leaving Aceh pending a
presidential amnesty, which is still being discussed by the
central government.