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Government Guarantees Political Participation for Former GAM Members
Tuesday, 12 July, 2005 | 23:08 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:State Secretary Yusril Ihza Mahendra said that Indonesian government would guarantee the political participation of former Free Aceh Movement (GAM) members.

This is because the government would not grant GAM’s wish to establish local parties despite their willingness to join the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.

“It is impossible that local political parties will be full. So, as the solution to overcome the deadlock in meeting the demands of former GAM members on their political rights, we have to guarantee their political rights and participation,” said Ihza Mahendra after inaugurating the new Antara News Agency editor-in-chief on Tuesday (12/07) in Jakarta.

According to the State Secretary, the government has refused the demands of the GAM delegation to establish new political parties as other countries might ask for the same.

“This is against our current law,” said Ihza Mahendra.
However, the government can only grant a special autonomy.

GAM members’ political participation will be guaranteed if the talks between GAM and the Indonesian government delegation are concluded and the GAM members are given amnesty and abolition.

To accommodate the political aspirations of former GAM members, the government has conducted meetings with political parties’ chairmen and invited them to accommodate the political aspirations of former GAM members. (Sunariah-Tempo News Room)