Banda Aceh – Free Aceh Movement (GAM) commander Abdulah Syafi'iled a military ceremony to commemorate the movement's 24th anniversary in Batee Iliek in the regency of Bireuen, Aceh, and pledged to continue the struggle for freedom.

Around 500 people, including members of the GAM female force Inong Balee, attended the peaceful ceremony which included a written address from the exiled Acehnese leader, Hasan di Tiro, read by, among others, Abdullah Syafi'i. The address was translated into Bahasa Indonesia and Acehnese.

A huge GAM flag was displayed at the ceremony, which was tightly guarded by armed GAM militia members. The ceremony started at 7.30am local time. In his statement, Hasan di Tiro, who has been in Sweden since the 1980s, called on the Acehnese people to continue the fight for an independent Aceh, and not submit to colonialist Indonesia.

"I call on you to prepare both material and moral strength so that we candefend the honor of our nation," he said. "The Acehnese people are obliged to wage war against this terrorist state." Di Tiro's statements defy the Indonesian government and military's pledge to prevent any separatist moves.

Indonesia's government has warned that the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia is final and that there is no possibility for Aceh or Irian Jaya to become independent. The government has ruled out Aceh's demand for independence and, instead, offered wide ranging autonomy to the province.

Reports indicated that anniversary ceremonies were held almost simultaneously in 30 areas throughout the province on Monday. In the capital of Banda Aceh, hundreds of people congregated at the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque in Banda Aceh to attend a mass prayer marking the GAM anniversary.

GAM members in the Joint Committee on Security Modality and members of the Joint Committee for Humanitarian Actions Cut Nur Asikin and Kamaruzzaman attended the ceremony at the grand mosque. In his oration, Teungku Amni bin Marzuki, a member of GAM, reiterated the demand for Aceh's separation from Indonesia.

The most emotional moment at the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque was when the GAM flag was showered with white flour before being carried from the left to right corners of the mosque. Many people burst into tears during this event.

"The scattering of white flour is called besiju. It expresses our hope that everything will end in a cool situation," a local said. The ceremony at the grand mosque was said to be much 'cooler' than that in Bireuen.

Despite the military and police high alert, Banda Aceh was totally calm on Monday. Daily life remained normal as shops and markets all opened as usual, and public transport operated normally.

Later in the afternoon two armored vehicles and two trucks, carrying army and police officers, roamed the city. Other security force personnel were seen lowering the GAM flag hoisted at the Syah Kuala University campus.

Unlike last year's festivity, there was no GAM flags waving along the Banda Aceh-Medan highway on Monday, however, the flags were seen flying in public buildings and streets in several regencies, namely Bireuen, Pidie, Aceh Besar, North and West Aceh. Residents said they had been secretly helping GAM rebels raise the flags in their districts since late Sunday evening.

Police Special Operation Cinta Meunasah deputy chief Supt. Yatim Suyatmo had earlier warned that stern action would be taken against those who attempted to raise flags other than the Indonesian red-and-white flag.

The North Aceh capital of Lhokseumawe, 270 kilometers away from Banda Aceh, was calm on Monday with scores of security officers on alert since Sunday night.

There was no impression that the people were intending to celebrate the anniversary of GAM. Not a single shop was opened down town making the business districts, including those along Jl. Merdeka, Jl. Periniagaan and Jl. Perdagangan, look lazy and idle, Antara reported.

Periodically, private vehicles would cruise through those roads, which are usually busy. The roads looked abandoned without the operation of local transit vehicles. A local said that this year's situation was much better than that of last year, judging from the fact that no gunshots were heard until 3.15pm local time.

The bloody fighting in the province remains unabated despite Indonesian government and GAM representatives having signed an agreement, called the Humanitarian Pause, to ease tension in the disputed territory last May in Switzerland.

The pause was later extended in September but failed to end the violence with GAM continuing its struggle for independence and the Indonesian government vowing to quell any separatist activities in the territory.

Further talks were scheduled to take place on December 5 and December 6, however, GAM has asked for a delay until a date between December 10 and December 15, on the grounds that they were busy with the anniversary festivities in Aceh on Monday December 4.