The armed conflict between the Indonesian armed forces, TNI, and the Free Acheh Movement, GAM, is hotting up again and victims have started to fall also.
This condition was spearheaded by the torching of the office of the Joint Security Committee (JSC), the peacemaker of the conflict.
The offer of the Indonesian government for another negotiation at the Joint Council level was rejected by GAM. This deadlock has entailed with the threat by Jakarta to launch a military operation.
The Free Acheh Movement that is determined to free Acheh does not seem to be frightened by this threat. They have prepared a special strategy to block the TNI's assault through what they call an improvised guerilla tactic. "We have predicted this from the beginning," said the spokesman of GAM who is also it's Commander for Pash Region, Sofyan Dawod.
This 35 year-old man in fact has forecasted that the TNI would carried out all sorts of provocations to derail the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA). So what's GAM's reaction?
Tempo correspondent Zainal Bakri interviewed Sofyan through an exchange of electronic mails last week. Here are some excepts:
How is GAM's preparation in facing the TNI's planned attack?
The Acheh National Armed Forces (TNA) has predicted this from the beginning. The Indonesian Army chief of Staff Ryamizard Ryacudu factor has made us to take the wait-and-see position from the beginning of the peace process. We have calculated that the TNI AD (Indonesian Army) would be launching all sorts of provocative actions in order to derail the CoHA in order to create an excuse for the relaunching of a military operation. If indeed finally Jakarta launch such an operation, there will be no other way for TNA but to open up our battle fields also.
What have you prepared to face the TNI?
There is no need for any special preparation. We are still going to face them with improvised guerilla tactics. We shall determine when and where to fight.
Why did GAM increase its personnel as well as armement capacities during the peace process?
We did no such thing. It is true though that just before the signing of the CoHA, the TNA received 7 pieces of the SS-1 weapons from our TNI friends who were being pulled out to Central Java. We have more than enough fighters. After the signing of the CoHA, many Achehnese youths asked to be trained and inducted into the TNA, but we rejected all, because not only that accepting them would be against the CoHA, but it would also create logistical problems for us.
Your troops have been accused of extorting money from the people of Acheh.
That's a ridiculous allegation. GAM does indeed collect taxes from businessmen. Many of them have in fact realized it [paying taxes to GAM] as a responsibility and many others have refused. Taxation is never a voluntary donation. Paying taxes is an obligation [in any country]. GAM does not collect taxes from the poor, we in fact give to them, at least once a year, during the Islamic Id celebration. The use of the tax money by GAM is very accountable and transparent. Indeed, it is the taxes collected by the Indonesian Government that is muddled and constituting an irony for the the people of Acheh.
How does GAM see the rejection of the Peace Zones and the increase of TNI troops?
It is clearly visible that the anti-JSC demonstrations and the rejection of the Zone of Peace demands were orchestrated by the TNI AD. Participants of the demonstrations were mostly Javanese militias, paid thugs and members of the TNI/POLRI (police) in civilian cloths. The strangest thing is that such demonstrations, although carried out in anarchy, were let to take place without hindrance by the Indonesian security apparata. But the genuin popular demonstration calling for democracy and in support of the Peace Zones have been banned and dispersed by force.
What is the worse possibility for the people of Acheh if Jakarta launched this military assault?
The worse effect will be its impact on the civilians. It has always been the experience for the Achehnese that the TNI and POLRI do not hesitate at all to point their weapons at the non-combattants.