Worse violence looms as GAM defies calls to surrender
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Banda Aceh
Fear of the worst bloodshed is looming in Aceh as the Indonesian Military (TNI) continue their siege on separatist rebels, who refused to budge and rejected calls for their surrender on Monday.
The rebel group taunted TNI leaders in a press release signed by Free Aceh Movement (GAM) spokesman Sofyan Dawod on Monday.
"It would be an honor if Army Strategic Reserves (Kostrad) Commander Lt. Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu would come to Aceh and lead the fight against us, instead of venting his anger in Jakarta," the release said.
Ryamizard is the current Army Chief of Staff and has headed Kostrad for the past year and a half.
"We expect them not to be so emotional in facing us, nor to believe in the reports they have received from the their men here," Sofyan declared in the statement.
The impending do-or-die battle will destroy hopes for the peace agreement which has been sought by the two conflicting parties over the past two years.
Armed conflict between the government and GAM since 1976 has claimed 10,000 lives, of which the majority have been civilians.
Thousands of Acehnese had rallied in support of the peace accord, the signing of which was originally scheduled to take place early this month.
Security troops have besieged the rebels and their leaders at their own headquarters in Cot Trieng village in northern Aceh since Wednesday, as Jakarta increases pressure on GAM to sign a cessation of hostility before Idul Fitri early next month.
GAM has said the signing would likely take place after the Muslim holiday. GAM had unilaterally declared a cease-fire before the military troops launched the siege.
On Sunday, Ryamizard threatened GAM to surrender or face massive attacks from the military. Ryamizard received full support from TNI Chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto, who said on Monday that the siege would continue until GAM agreed to sign the peace accord.
"We have launched rockets around the area as a warning to GAM that although we have the capability to crush them, we have chosen to give them more time to sign the peace accord," Endriartono said after a limited Cabinet meeting presided over by President Megawati.
Endriartono asserted that TNI had a duty to shut down any secessionist movement, including GAM.
"Our move to surround their headquarters has proven to effectively reduce GAM activities and we will maintain the tactic," the four-star general said.
To add more pressure on GAM, Jakarta urged the Swedish government to take action against GAM leaders in exile in Sweden, who have adopted Swedish citizenship.
Underlining the 1970s United Nations (UN) convention, under which member countries are obligated to take action against their citizens involved in rebellions in other countries, Jakarta expects Stockholm to restrict the movements of GAM leaders.
"Stockholm has stated its support for Indonesia's territorial integrity; we are asking them to prove their statement," Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda said on Monday at a press conference after the cabinet meeting. He explained further that the appeal was directed at GAM leaders Hassan Tiro, Abdullah Zaini and Malik Mahmud.
"The Swedish government provides living allowances, and as a sovereign country, it could impose certain limitations on its citizens," Hassan added.
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said during the same press conference that the government was waiting for GAM to return to the negotiating table during the current fasting month.
In its release, GAM said that it was open to the peace accord, but accused TNI of having tainted the unilateral truce GAM had declared in respect for the fasting month.
Separately, Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh said that he completely supported the TNI move, and hoped that the situation could be resolved without claiming more civilian lives.