Lhokseumawe – Iskandar Muda Military chief Lt. Gen. Supiadin AS has said that despite the peace process in Aceh, blackmailing practices and criminal acts against the general public has increased.

According to Supiadin that almost every day, he received reports regarding blackmail carried out by several groups of people in the community. Therefore, he said he hoped that people would report any incidents of this to the police or to the Aceh Monitoring Mission (AMM).

"There have been many criminal acts and blackmailing practices. However, the public does not dare report these to the AMM," Supiadin told reporters at Kreung Geukuh port in Lhokseumawe following the sending home of 1,499 TNI personnel to their original task units on Thursday (20/10).

Those sent home were 488 members of Indonesian Military (TNI) Battalion 712 Wira Tama, 433 from Pratnya Sama Prayuda, 433 from Battalion 623 Bhakti Wira Utama, 125 from Special Troops Company and 20 from Skuadron.

Supiadin also said that GAM members had provoked the public while conducting peace socialization in small Muslim chapels in villages. He referred to incidents in Pidie and North Aceh regency.

In response, the chairman of AMM Pieter Fieth said that both parties would discuss every incoming report. The AMM has also urged GAM to warn its members in the field to end these acts.

Irwandi Yusuf, the GAM representative at the AMM, said that he would hand over criminal problems to the police. He said that members of the public and former GAM members who had returned to their villages in Bireuen regency had begun to worry as, according to TNI propaganda, the MoU between Indonesia and GAM would not last long.

In TNI propaganda, members of the general public have been warned not to have close contact with the GAM. "Otherwise, they will be arrested," stated Irwandi quoting what the propaganda contained. (Imran M.A.-Tempo News Room)