Youngest 'chantoi' gives story

His name is Ayus Rizal, 13. He is the youngest Acehnese resident currently undergoing training at the military camp for former separatist rebels in Reuleut village, North Aceh.

He once became a chantoi (civilian recruited by GAM as an undercover agent to spy on the rebels' enemies) and was tasked with finding supplies, such as rice or cigarettes, for his commanders.

The last of four children, he admitted that he had surrendered to the Indonesian Military (TNI) because he was afraid that he might otherwise die young from a soldier's bullet.

"When I joined GAM, I used to help the rebels obtain foodstuffs and other supplies. They paid me for this ... about Rp 20,000 (US$2.2) each time I went to their camp and brought cigarettes, rice or other food," said the young, handsome boy, who was born in 1991.

The military has claimed that GAM recruited teenagers as chantoi, to monitor military maneuvers in the field. Some of the chantoi are equipped with walkie-talkies to keep in touch with the guerrillas.

The chantoi regularly informed rebels about the presence and targets of operations set by TNI soldiers.

Ayus, nevertheless, denied that he ever supplied GAM fighters with information on the whereabouts of soldiers.

The second-grade student at a local junior high school in Geudong village, North Aceh, claimed that he was prepared to help GAM because he wanted to do so. No further reason was given.

He said that none of his family members had joined the secessionist movement, which has fought for independence since 1970.

"My parents have visited me here, so my have my sisters and brothers. I miss not being with them again," Ayus said. -- JP