TEMPO, Wednesday, 08 September, 2004 | 13:11 WIB
National
TNI Investigates Relationship between Aceh Governor Puteh and
GAM
TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:Indonesian Military (TNI) chief General Endriartono
Sutarto said that he was still investigating the possible involvement of Nanggroe Aceh
Darussalam (NAD) governor Abdullah Puteh with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM)
separatist group.
Based on the testimonies of several GAM members who have been arrested, Sutarto
said Puteh had been in contact with the separatist group before he became governor.
"We are investigating the truth of the GAM members' statement," said the TNI Chief
following a meeting with Army Chiefs from ASEAN countries in Jakarta on Monday
(06/09).
Sutarto said that the TNI would follow up this information and settle the matter legally.
According to security personnel in Aceh, the report of Puteh's alleged link to GAM
came from Gumarni, the personal assistant to GAM Commander Muzakir Manaf and
Sayed Mustafa, the GAM coordinator in Mereuhom Daya and South Aceh regions.
Gumarni said in a report dated April 28, 2004, that he had known Puteh since 2002.
In the report, Gumarni admitted of having met with Puteh once at the Polonia airport,
Medan, North Sumatra and three times at the Mandarin Hotel, Jakarta.
At a meeting held in September 2003 in Jakarta, Gumarni said he had received Rp5
million from Puteh and another Rp10 million in a meeting held in January 2004.
In a report dated May 7, 2004, Sayed Mustafa also said that Puteh had given him Rp5
million in 1999 at the Gran Melia Hotel, Jakarta.
This meeting was held at the order of GAM Prime Minister Malik Mahmud in Sweden.
In a similar report, Puteh was said to have requested Mustafa to connect him with
Malik Mahmud in the interest of his bid to become governor.
Puteh reportedly gave Rp5 million to Mustafa.
Mustafa then met with Puteh three days after that in Singapore with the approval of
Malik Mahmud.
"Puteh then prepared an airline ticket to Singapore using Singapore Airlines and a
passport for Mustafa with alias name of Asri Azis," said the report received by Tempo
from an Indonesian Military (TNI) officer.
At the end of the report, Puteh was said to have made a coup d'état attempt.
Sudi Silalahi, former secretary for Coordinating Minister for Political and Security
Affairs, said that there had been indicationd of Puteh's involvement in the GAM since
the joint monitoring team, which Silalahi led, started working in Aceh.
Based on the data collected, according to Silalahi, there have been significant
relations between Puteh and the GAM.
"However, the government has never paid attention to this data," said Silalahi.
To date, Puteh has unavailable for comment on these reports.
GAM Commander in East Aceh Teungku Ishak Daud stated that GAM had received
funds donation from Puteh several times.
"During the period of 1996 to 2000, Puteh provided us with funds for our group's
struggle," Daud told Tempo by satellite phone.
He added that Puteh had often given similar funds to other GAM commanders in
Aceh.
According to Daud, Puteh always requested GAM to support him as governor.
He also confirmed the meeting between Puteh and GAM Prime Minister Malik
Mahmud in Singapore in 1999. (Cahyo Junaedy/Sunariah/Yuswardi/Nafi-Tempo News
Room)
copyright TEMPO 2003
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