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Interview: Zaini Abdullah, Free Aceh Movement
By Kazi Mahmood
15/08/2001
The Indonesian province of Aceh has been torn by violence since 1976, when a surviving member of an Acehnese ruling family, whom had fought against Dutch colonial masters in a 150-year war, declared unilateral independence from the Indonesian Republic.
The independence bid was brutally crushed by the Armed Forces of Indonesia (TNI) sent in by former Indonesian leader, General Suharto. Hassan Di Tiro, a royal prince coming from a line of Acehnese leaders who - as a result, left Aceh for Switzerland - is now running a strong resistance movement against Indonesian rule over what he calls the "occupied territory of Aceh".
The future of Indonesia as a political and geographical entity today depends largely on which solution the "province" of Aceh will accept in the coming months.
Zaini Abdullah, a deputy leader under the leadership of the 80-year-old Di Tiro, who is suffering from a recent stroke, spoke to IslamOnline concerning the armed struggle currently being conducted by the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).
Newly elected Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri announced on August 14th that she would handle separatist threats from Aceh, saying she would give peace a chance - meaning to say that she expects the GAM to depose of its arms and accept a negotiated settlement.
Observers in Jakarta told IslamOnline, however, that Megawati might unleash the army to directly confront the GAM, quelling all calls for independence in the region.
The GAM, for its part, stated to IslamOnline that it wants independence, and that this was the only way to solve the crisis that has beheld the oil rich province since 1976.
Indonesian authorities know that if Aceh splits from the Republic, the future of the vast archipelago will be doomed. Megawati has given herself the emergency role in handling the crisis. Will she succeed where all her predecessors have failed?
Here is the GAM's, a well-trained and solid military force that has defied the powerful TNI for 25 years, point of view:
IslamOnline: Can you tell us what is the current situation in Aceh?
Zaini Abdullah: The situation in Aceh is worsening day after day, and there is nothing that indicates there could be a peaceful solution to the problems in the territory. However, for our part, on our side, the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) is trying.
We are working hard for a peaceful solution. We have a facilitator in the ongoing talks where we want to get an agreement with the Republic of Indonesia.
But so far, we have agreed on something, especially to reduce the tension in Aceh, which is the making of the TNI, the armed forces of Indonesia, the Brimob (police) and so on.
We don't know exactly, yet we think we have achieved something in the dialogue in Geneva. More than seven times we have since last year, however until now nothing has been implemented in Aceh.
I am sorry to say that I myself, as the head of the delegation of the GAM, do not know what will happen to these talks.
IOL: We do not have an exact idea of what is going on in Aceh. Can you tell us more on the violation of human rights and so on?
Abdullah: Our aim is independence for Aceh from the Republic of Indonesia, which we consider the invaders of our country. We have the right to get back this independence.
According to historical background, the independence of Aceh is not a problematic thing. Aceh was an independent state even during Dutch occupation and after the Japanese invasion. None of the colonial forces could really dominate or control Aceh.
We were independent until the formation of Indonesia as a republic. There, the problem started for us.
An independent Aceh is not a new thing. Our struggle today is legitimate and we are just continuing our struggle to achieve independence.
After 1945, when Indonesia became independent, the Dutch occupiers transferred the sovereignty of Aceh to Indonesia. That was an illegal thing to do.
From Dutch occupiers, we were sent into the folds of Indonesia. It is the same thing, and the people of Aceh never wanted to be part of the new republic.
Indonesia is a colonial empire, controlling Aceh and we will never forget our independence. There is more violence and atrocities in Aceh today than under the Dutch rule.
Human rights abuse, rapes and killings, are rampant and are committed by the soldiers of the armed forces of Indonesia under the Kostrad [the specially trained commando of the armed forces].
You know, independence is the first thing for the Acehnese people. In November 1999, one million Acehnese rallied in Banda Aceh to show support for the cause of independence.
In that case also they have jailed and killed people in order to curb on the demands for independence.
IOL: Are the people of Aceh really behind the GAM?
Abdullah: In 1976, Hassan Di Tiro came back from America and proclaimed the independence of Aceh. He left America to lead the people of Aceh and found that there was a direct dominance of the Java-based administration in the state.
The people of Aceh understood what happened to them and when Tiro started the campaign to free Aceh from the Indonesians, the people supported him.
They have no confidence in Indonesia and deny being Indonesian citizens. It is underground; you cannot see it on the surface except in the fights against the TNI.
On the surface, the Indonesians tend to portray a nice picture of the territory saying that only a few armed elements from the GAM are the troublemakers.
The reality is different. Why would one million people rally for independence and insist that they want to break away from the Indonesian Republic if the majority of Acehnese did not want independence?
Seriously, no Acehnese would accept any compromise from the Indonesians for the years of oppression against the people and the dilapidation of our resources.
IOL: Is the GAM operating only underground?
Abdullah: From the beginning, the GAM has been underground…forced underground by the military activities in Aceh. The rally in 1999 was a show of force sponsored by the GAM to show that we want independence and that the GAM is not really underground anymore.
Yet the repression from the armed forces occupying the territory was severe and the attempts at denying the Acehnese the right to self-expression were numerous under the previous regime in Jakarta.
It is barbaric, brutal, all the killing of the people in the territory. Those suspected of supporting the GAM has been arrested or killed and I can say that more than 30,000 Acehnese were killed over the last two years of oppression in Aceh.
IOL: Will Megawati Sukarnoputri's appointment as President of Indonesia signify peace for Aceh?
Abdullah: Frankly speaking, for us it is the same thing. Who is appointed President in Indonesia is the same thing. No more questions about who is president of the RI.
I spoke to our mediator in the peace talks in Geneva and we can say that we, the GAM, are not closing the doors for negotiations. If they can find any solution for getting peaceful dialogue, we are ready to continue.
I recently get reports from Geneva that they are going to try to meet the new Indonesian leader soon to discuss issues of important and relevance with her.
We want to know if we can get better deals yet we do not have any confidence in the Indonesian government.
IOL: Is it possible for the GAM to fight the TNI and defeat them in case of a full-scale war?
Abdullah: Yes, definitely yes. We stand on our own feet from 1977 until today and they know that we have the strength and power to lead the struggle.
The facts are in our favor, we have the support of the people; a large majority of the people and the TNI is in the territory terrorizing the innocents. They know the entire population is praying and fighting their own battle for independence.
They also know that the GAM is made up of Acehnese, fighting for an independent state. The GAM does not have international recognition yet, but if we have it at this point, it will be a boost.
Indirectly the international community is watching, and they will observe from now on what will happen in Aceh while Megawati holds the reign of power in Jakarta.
The U.S. says it is going to preserve the integrity of Indonesia on one side, and that it is weary of human rights abuse in Aceh. They say they are not recognizing the GAM.
To us what is important is that we are fighting for our rights.
IOL: Does the GAM have the support of the OIC or Muslim countries?
Abdullah: Depending on which way we have to go to achieve our aims and objectives, we think many countries will support our claims and our struggle.
When it comes to human rights abuse committed by the Army, I can tell you we have the support of many Muslim and non-Muslim countries. They show their concern and they do provide assistance [humanitarian aide] to Aceh. That is important to us too.
We have also been trained in Libya, if you want to know, and we have some five thousand heavily trained and armed people in Aceh.
These people will also now train the young Acehnese, including women, on how to manipulate arms and to defend themselves in case of attack by the army. Young men, women, our brothers and sisters, will be soldiers and freedom fighters.
IOL: Should we expect to see a full-scale war between the two groups soon?
Abdullah: The fighting is going on in the field, though I cannot tell you when the army will engage us literally. They are attacking our villages, our people and us, and we are ready to fight them.
IOL: What about autonomy? Will you be ready to accept any new proposals from the Indonesian government, such as federation?
Abdullah: No. It is out of question to accept any deal on autonomy. That is out of question. We now have to see what direction we have to take and wait for the talks to resume. The Acehnese people are ready for independence and the world should know that this people are ready to die
shaheed [martyrs], or win the war. That is what is left for Aceh.
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