Jakarta – The second phase of disarmament in Aceh has been extended as the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) has not yet handed over the target number of weapons needed to be surrendered under the peace deal.
GAM has handed in 182 acceptable weapons during the past three days and, with 32 more them still under scrutiny, the former rebel group was still short of the 232 arms the must be handed over in each of four disarmament phases.
Another 50 weapons were ruled out as they were not considered functional. "We had scheduled the second phase of the disarmament to end within three days, but we will now extend it into the coming week," Juri Laas, a spokesman for the Aceh Monitoring Mission (AMM), told AFP on Sunday.
Under the peace accord signed in Helsinki in August by the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), the former rebel group is required to surrender all of its declared 840 weapons in four stages to be completed by Dec. 31.
The Aceh Monitoring Mission (AMM) that groups peace monitors from the European Union and member countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), will then destroy the weapons after a verification process.
GAM has also agreed to dissolve its military organization and drop its long-held demand for independence. In return, GAM members will be awarded an amnesty and have their full political rights restored.
Former GAM members will also be provided with small plots of land and money in order to help them reintegrate into society.
In exchange for GAM's disarmament, the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police must also reduce their presence in the tsunami-wrecked province. At the end of the disarmament process, from the current 57,000 soldiers and police stationed in the province, only 14,700 soldiers and 9,100 police officers will be allowed to stay.
GAM brought in 279 weapons in the first phase in September, but 36 weapons were disqualified. The government, meanwhile, withdrew almost 6,000 soldiers and 2,000 police personnel, and is due to do the same after the completion of the second phase.
Aceh military commander Maj. Gen. Supiadin A.S. said that although failing to meet the target, GAM had fulfilled its promise to hand in the weapons in the second phase.
He added that the withdrawal of noncombatant soldiers would still take place as scheduled on Nov. 18 as GAM assured it would make up for the shortage in weapons to be submitted. "The rest of the weapons most probably will be surrendered in Sabang on Nov. 18, Supiadin said.
Also witnessing the disarmament process in Bendahara district, some 30 kilometers from Kuala Simpang, the capital of Aceh Tamiang regency, were several government officials, including Minister of Information and Communication Sofyan Djalil, AMM and GAM representatives.
Thousands of local residents also watched closely the destruction of the weapons in a palm oil plantation.