TNI Chief Expects Good Intentions from GAM

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:The Indonesian Military (TNI) expects Free Aceh Movement (GAM) members not to carry weapons during the demilitarization stage that starts on February 9 in Aceh. During the next stage, weapons will be stored in certain warehouses. We hope GAM will honor the agreement on this, TNI chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto told reporters following a cabinet meeting held at the State Secretary office in Jakarta on Thursday (6/2). Sutarto said he also hoped GAM would show its commitment and good intentions during the demilitarization stage by honoring the joint agreement with the Indonesian government. According to him, the demilitarization stage is the stage to build trust between both sides. Regarding a statement made by the joint security committee that will impose sanctions on parties violating the agreement, Sutarto said that the committee had no force to carry out any sanctions. He added that the sanction would only act to record violations to the agreement. These will then be published so that the public will know about who does not have good intentions in implementing the agreement, said Sutarto. If any recorded noted violation is considered off limits, the joint agreement between GAM and the government could be cancelled. According to Sutarto, the TNI considers that GAM has given indications of having no intention of keeping to the signed agreement. This, he said, could be seen from the reports made by the joint security committee. If we see no prospects for the future, why should we continue implementing this agreement? said Sutarto. He added that the deadline of the agreement would be very much depend on the number of violations carried out by the GAM within these two or three days. Sutarto stated that so far, there have been no violations by the TNI. (Deddy Sinaga Tempo News Room)