ST, MAR 14, 2000

Gus Dur says Aceh rebels are desperate

The peace drive of the Indonesian troops has led to an increase of violence and attacks from the Free Aceh Movement, said the President

JAKARTA -- Separatist rebels in Aceh, fighting for decades for an independent Islamic state there, are getting desperate in the face of the government's peace drive, Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid said yesterday.

"Now the Free Aceh Movement is so desperate because of the so-called peace offensive of our national troops and the lack of offensive from the Indonesian armed forces," Mr Abdurrahman told a press briefing at the Bina Graha presidential office.

He said the desperation had led to increasing cases of violence and attacks from the Free Aceh Movement (GAM). He cited a recent incident where the alleged rebels attacked a school and burned it.

To prevent clashes and further violence, Mr Abdurrahman said he had instructed army chief General Tyasno Sudarto, to "rein in effectively his troops" but did not say when the instruction was given.

"They should remain in their compound ... do not go to the streets," he said he told Gen Sudarto.

Meanwhile, GAM announced that it was ready to hold talks with the government in deference to the demands of the people of Aceh.

"Our readiness to negotiate with the Indonesian government is not because we are surrendering to the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) but to comply with the demands of the people of Aceh," GAM Secretary -General Tengku Don Zulfahri said.

The people of Aceh have realised that armed conflict is not an appropriate way to resolve the Aceh problem, he was quoted as saying by The Indonesian Observer.

Mr Zulfahri made the announcement during an interactive dialogue with Banda Aceh-based Radio Nikoya FM.

Also, in a letter to Radio Nikoya FM, Mr Zulfahri on Sunday reiterated that GAM wished to negotiate with the government.

"GAM's readiness to hold a dialogue (with the government) doesn't mean that we admit any fault, or that we're ready to respond to an appeal by the local military commander," he said, adding that negotiations would enable both parties to find a mutually acceptable solution.

The reason behind GAM's readiness to negotiate with the government is to heed the wishes of the people of Aceh for a political solution to the question, said Mr Zulfahri, according to the Observer.

Mr Zulfahri added that the dialogue was not prompted by pressure from either the government or the TNI.

"GAM members never have and never will surrender and vow loyalty to the unitary state of Indonesia." ---------------------------