The Jakarta Post, October 22, 2003
GAM negotiators, activist get long sentences
Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam
The Banda Aceh District Court sentenced on Tuesday three negotiators of the Free
Aceh Movement (GAM), including chief negotiator Sofyan Ibrahim Tiba, and women
activist Cut Nurasyikin, to prison terms of between 11 years and 15 years.
The court convicted Sofyan and his colleagues, Amni Ahmad Marzuki and
Muhammad Usman Lampo Awe, to 15 years, 13 years and 12 years respectively for
treason and terrorism.
"The defendants have caused unrest among the people. They also tried to separate
(Aceh) from Indonesia," said presiding judge Maratuo Rambe while reading out the
verdict.
Maratuo said the three defendants were charged with terrorism since they knew of
killings, bombings and abductions but they did not report them to the authorities.
The defendants were charged with treason since they were appointed as negotiators
by GAM, he said.
Shortly after hearing the court's decision, the defendants said that they would appeal
the verdict, arguing that the sentence was too heavy and unfair.
"The defendants did not commit physical acts of terrorism. It's also wrong that the
negotiation process was considered as an evil conspiracy that led them to commit
treason," the defendants' lawyer Adnan Buyung Nasution said.
Buyung regretted that the court did not consider that the defendants' actions were
aimed at helping create peace in the province.
Prosecutors earlier demanded that the court sentence Sofyan, Amni, Muhammad
Usman to 18 years, 15 years and 16 years respectively.
The court will read out the verdicts of two other GAM negotiators Kamaruzzaman and
Nashiruddin Ahmad on Wednesday.
Sofyan and the four other negotiators were arrested on May 19, the day the
government imposed martial law in the province.
In a separate courtroom trial on Tuesday, several Acehnese women activists burst
into tears upon hearing the court's decision to sentence Nurasyikin to 11 years in
prison for treason.
"The defendant conducted a speech in which she demanded a referendum in 1999
and challenged the legitimate government," presiding judge Hamdan Hasibuan said.
Hamdan said the defendant conducted a referendum campaign and held a GAM flag
in Baiturrahman Grand Mosque on Dec. 4 three years ago.
"Thank God. Long live Aceh. Dissolve Indonesia," Nurasyikin shouted when the judge
finished reading the verdict.
However, Nurasyikin, 48, who heads Srikandi, a non-governmental organization for
women's empowerment, appealed the court's decision.
Nurasyikin's lawyer Darwis said the verdict was too heavy, saying: "Nurasyikin should
be charged with insulting the state, instead of treason."
He cited an example of a trial against the chairman of the Aceh Referendum
Information Center (SIRA) Muhammad Nazar who was sentenced to five years in
prison for insulting the state.
Meanwhile, in related development, the Indonesian Military (TNI) announced on
Tuesday that it had captured two GAM members in operations in Pidie and Aceh
Besar regencies.
TNI operation spokesman Lt. Col. Ahmad Yani Basuki said the rebels, identified as
Syamsuddin, 55, of Seulimum district, Aceh Besar, and Sabri, 15, from East Mutiara
district, were arrested on Saturday and Sunday respectively, Antara reported.
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