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Thailand Cracks Down On Arms Smuggling To Aceh
by Kazi Mahmood
JAKARTA, May 17 (IslamOnline) - Indonesia looks set to starve the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) of its arms supply as the government intends to squeeze GAM arms suppliers, quickly stepping up efforts to do so, sources in Jakarta told IslamOnline.
During a visit to Thailand this week, Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid thanked Thai authorities for clamping down on attempts to smuggle weapons and ammunition to separatists in the troubled Indonesian province of Aceh.
The Thai army last week arrested two Thai army sergeants in the south of the country carrying 15,000 bullets, grenades, landmines and TNT explosive devices. The suppilies were suspected to be dispatched to the GAM.
The Bangkok Post reported that the Thai government, through Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, ordered a thorough inquiry on the matter.
The two soldiers were arrested while driving two pickup trucks carrying the weapons in the southern Thai province of Songkla, where they would have been delivered to Aceh via Malaysia or the Philippines.
Thaksin said he believed that more troops could be involved in the smuggling attempt. "I issue[d] the order because this is a very serious problem which shows clear signs of corruption in the [Thai] armed forces," he was quoted as saying.
Wahid's government also hoped Thai authorities would further assist in supervising and curbing the "political traffic of Aceh separatists, which is currently being carried out via Thailand."
Jakarta said it would provide Thailand with information on Indonesians who have made use of the neighboring nation for separatist activities in Aceh.
The Indonesian government also claims that Thailand has given full support to Indonesia's firm measures in dealing with the GAM, which has long been fighting for an independent Islamic state in Aceh.
War has been raging continuously in Aceh despite several truces between the government and GAM leaders.
And recently, Jakarta launched a new offensive against separatists as part of comprehensive efforts to end the violence in the rebellious province.
A large section of the Indonesian population is against any break-up of the Indonesian nation, IslamOnline was told on Thursday. Several observers said Indonesians view Aceh as an important element cementing the nation.
"If Aceh goes, the nation goes," said Ramli Rashid, an Indonesian student in Jakarta. He added that Aceh should remain in the Republic and enjoy greater freedom and autonomy as proposed by the Wahid regime.
Wahid has warned he would crackdown on factions of the GAM that oppose the government-offered wide-ranging autonomy for the province.
He said he believed the GAM's military faction, supported by Hassan Tiro, in exile in Geneva, did not have the support of the masses in Aceh.
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