Jakarta – President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Wednesday instructed Iskandar Muda military Commander Maj. Gen. Djali Yusuf to sternly punish the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM). She also blamed GAM for disturbing the public order.

"Groups who commit violence and disturb public order have to be sternly punished," Megawati told the military commander in a long distance dialog after she attended a ceremony in Cikampek, Karawang, West Java.

Megawati, accompanied by husband Taufik Kiemas, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti and Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla, said that she had instructed security authorities to maintain stability across the country, including in war-torn Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (The province formerly known simply as Aceh).

In a series of recent attacks, GAM rebels have been accused of abducting nine crew members of a boat hired by oil and gas company ExxonMobil Indonesia to carry supplies to its offshore oil exploration field.

The rebels have also allegedly kidnapped nine athletes and officers in Aceh Sigli after they had participated in a provincial sporting event. Rebels have also toppled some 21 electricity towers in East Aceh area, causing widespread blackouts in eastern Aceh.

Yusuf said that he had already deployed his Rajawali unit to restore security in East Aceh.