GAM leaders back in Indonesia after 30 years in exile
High ranking members of Aceh's former rebel movement returned yesterday to monitor application of the peace treaty signed with Jakarta in Helsinki last year.
Banda Aceh (AsiaNews) There was no special welcome or extraordinary security measures to welcome leaders of the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM), who returned to Indonesia after 30 years of self-imposed exile in Sweden and Malaysia. Nine leaders of the movement, which recently made its peace with the central government, touched down in Sultan Iskandar Muda airport in Banda Aceh yesterday afternoon.
The aim of the visit was to monitor the application of the peace treaty signed last August in Helsinki between GAM and Jakarta. The agreement ended a war that cost the lives of 15,000 people from 1976 until now. Peace negotiations were facilitated by the tsunami of 26 December 2004 that led to the delivery of foreign humanitarian aid to a region hitherto cut off under martial law.
The head of Indonesia's Intelligence Services, Syamsir Siregar, acknowledged that the leaders' presence was "a reason for rejoicing" for the population of Aceh province. He added: "We have not prepared special security operations for their visit, because they are here not as GAM leaders, but as ordinary Indonesian citizens."
Among the leaders who arrived yesterday from Stockholm were the Prime Minister designate of GAM, Malik Mahmud, Health Minister Zaini Abdullah, and GAM spokesman Bakhtiar Abdullah. Two other leaders from Malaysia Teuku Hadi and Zulfikar also joined in the reunion.
The former GAM military wing spokesman, Sofyan Dawood, warmly welcomed the ex leaders when they stopped over in Medan, North Sumatra, yesterday before heading for Banda Aceh. The top leader of GAM, Hasan Tiro, currently in Sweden, was conspicuous by his absence.
Rufriadi, a peace activist in the province, said he considered the historic event as a sign of "significant commitment for peace". But Sutardjo "Mbah Tardjo" Soerjogoeritno, Parliament's deputy Speaker, did not agree. He warned: "Security officials must pay close attention to the visit". He did, however, describe the move of the GAM leaders as "sincere", saying it showed their "intentions for peace".
One of the more controversial clauses of the Helsinki Agreement is Jakarta's go-ahead to GAM to set up a political party, the Free Aceh Movement Council (better known as Majelis Gam). Politicians in and out of parliament have criticized the clause, saying such a political movement could pose a threat to national integrity.
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09/11/2006
27/12/2005
