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.