Jakarta – Chief of the Iskandar Muda Regional Military Command Maj. Gen. Supiadin A.S. defended Monday former members of the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM), a number of whom are in leading government positions in the Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam province.

"They have been lawfully elected in the local elections," Supiadin told Antara. "Therefore, there are no grounds to reject or disrupt their leadership."

Supiadin told the former GAM members that despite their history, they should always side with the people.

A number of former GAM members have been elected as leaders in the country's westernmost province, including Governor Irwandy Yusuf, who was a senior GAM leader before the Aug. 15, 2005 Helsinki agreement, which ended the prolonged conflict in the province.