Jakarta – The spokesman of ther Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in Aceh Irwandi Yusuf confirmed that GAM high-ranking officials, Hasan Tiro and Malik Mahmud, would not visit Aceh in the near future.

Previously, the chairman of the Aceh Monitoring Mission (AMM) Peter Feith said in a seminar held in Banda Aceh at the end of December 2005 that GAM officials, including Hasan Tiro and Malik Mahmud, would go to Aceh in January 2006.

According to Yusuf, now representing the GAM at the AMM, GAM's officials are to return to Aceh and this is to be discussed in GAM's internal organization. Yusuf also said that the arrival of Hasan Tiro and other GAM officials in Aceh depended on the political situation, particularly in Aceh.

"They will come if the political situation is conducive. Although the security situation is quite good, the political situation is not yet stable, " stated Yusuf.

Other matters that have become the reason of whether or not GAM's officials would arrive in Aceh is the implementation of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD) local government law, that has been established by the Indonesian Home Affairs Department. "They will see whether or not local government law is according to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed last August," stated Yusuf. (Sunariah-Tempo News Room)