Suwarjono, Jakarta – Two members of the Aceh regional parliament (DPRD) are reported to be involved with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and are being investigated by police. Vice-president Hamzah Haz who is also the chairperson of the United Development Party (PPP) has invited security personnel to investigate those members of his party who are involved with GAM.

"Please, who ever is guilty, including members of the DPRD from PPP, they must be processed in accordance with the stipulations of prevailing laws. But of course PPP [will provide someone to] defend them and to see how it could have occurred", he said.

Hamzah, who met with reporters after Friday prayers at the Jami' Darusallm mosque in East Jakarta, explained that GAM was using a number of means to obtain funds. "And these must be investigated", he said.

Furthermore Hamzah explained, "If [there are DPRD members] who are involved, yeh they must be processed. Because we want to create [a situation] where the Acehnese people, both government officials and members of the legislator, [wish] to be part of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia [NKRI]. And not be two faced. Joining GAM, joining NKRI, that's not allowed", he explained.

As reported earlier, two DPRD members from the Greater Aceh regency and Sabang city were reported to be involved with GAM and are now being detain by local security forces. One of them, according to the military commander overseeing marshal law in Aceh, Major General Endang Suwarya, is a financial contributor [to GAM]. (gtp)

[Translated by James Balowski.]