Tiarma Siboro and Teuku Agam Muzakkir, Jakarta/Lhokseumawe – Despite warnings and threats of attacks by the Indonesian Military (TNI), the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) plans on celebrating its 27th anniversary, which falls on December 4.
Ishak Daud, a GAM commander overseeing East Aceh, said his troops had already prepared for a modest ceremony in the territory, while GAM fighters in Pidie regency have been holding rehearsals outside the town of Sigli since last week.
"We will celebrate the 27th anniversary, even though the military is continuing its operations here. We welcome the press in covering it, but of course, we will only hold modest events on December 4," Ishak said, not like past celebrations.
In the past, thousands of GAM members held events simultaneously across the province at around 8 a.m. GAM flags were hoisted in a show of force and the province was generally quiet, with many shops closed for the anniversary and most public transportation not operating.
In Pidie, GAM spokesman Teungku Anwar Hussein expected that people would respect the movement's historical day by supporting the anniversary. "I believe that all Acehnese will honor December 4 as independence day, even without our calling upon them to do so," he said.
Meanwhile, ahead of the GAM celebration, the TNI's intelligence officers are heightening monitoring activities for press believed to be planning coverage of the day. Several military personnel have even questioned reporters as to whether they planned to go elsewhere in Aceh to cover the anniversary, including the make and model of their vehicles and license plate numbers.
President Megawati Soekarnoputri declared martial law on May 19 and launched an integrated operation focusing mainly on wiping out GAM, which has been fighting for an independent Aceh since 1976. The operations were extended for another six months from November 19, despite widespread criticisms.
The military has claimed that more than 1,000 guerrillas had been killed since May, 2,000 others had been arrested or had surrendered and 485 weapons had been seized. The TNI initially estimated a rebel strength of about 5,000. Meanwhile, 319 civilians have been killed while thousands have become refugees.
In the latest developments in Aceh, TNI soldiers killed six suspected GAM rebels and captured four women believed to be members of the movement's female wing Inong Bale in separate operations. The troops also confiscated a handgun and two walkie-talkies from the dead rebels, military spokesman Lt. Col. A. Yani Basuki said on Sunday.