The Jakarta Post, 12/3/2003 3:36:23 PM
Military to prevent GAM members celebrating anniversary
JAKARTA (Agencies): Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto has
said the military will prevent the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) from
celebrating its anniversary on Dec. 4.
"In principle, we don't want GAM to commemorate its anniversary. We will prevent it
as much as possible," Endriartono said on Wednesday.
GAM said it plans flag-raising ceremonies in the province on Thursday to mark the
27th anniversary of its first declaration of independence from Indonesia in 1976.
The province has been under martial law since the latest efforts to resolve the conflict
collapsed in May and Jakarta launched an offensive to crush the rebellion.
Meanwhile, Military spokesman Lt. Col Ahmad Yani Basuki in Aceh said that any
public displays to mark the Dec. 4 anniversary would be an embarrassment to
authorities, who claim to have therebels on the run as a result of the offensive.
"If GAM try to celebrate the day, we will give them a chance to surrender first,"
Basuki. "If they don't put their hands up, we will shoot them."
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