Witnesses readied for Hasan Tiro

BANDA ACEH: Martial law commander Maj. Gen. Endang Suwarya said on Wednesday he would prepare witnesses who could prove the involvement of Hasan Tiro in the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).

"If the central government allows them to come to Aceh, we will give complete, concrete data and evidence (of Hasan Tiro's involvement in GAM)," Endang said in Banda Aceh.

He was commenting on the decision of the Swedish government to investigate GAM leaders currently residing in that country over their alleged involvement in terrorist activities here.

Endang said the witnesses would include GAM members arrested for burning down schools on the order of their superiors.

Meanwhile, a source said the police were preparing a key witness currently held at the Tanjung Kusta Penitentiary in North Sumatra.

The witness, according to the source, was directly ordered and financed by Hasan Tiro to attend military training in Libya several years back.

He, however, refused to give the identity of this person.

"(I am) sorry, his name cannot be revealed for security reasons." -- JP