House of Representatives Approves of GAM Leaders' Return
Monday, 17 April, 2006 | 16:57 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The House of Representatives (DPR) circle approves of the plan of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) leaders to return. “Their appearance must be regarded positively,” said DPR Deputy Chairman, Zaenal Ma'arif in Jakarta yesterday.

The Deputy Chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) faction, Djoko Susilo was also pleased. “Hopefully this development will help the peace process in Aceh.”

Gratitude was expressed by a member of the Foreign Affairs Commission from the Golkar Party faction, Yorrys Raweyai. “This shows their commitment to developing peace in Aceh.” He valued their return as part of the government’s success in gaining GAM's trust.

Nine GAM leaders from Sweden are scheduled to arrive in Aceh tomorrow. According to a GAM figure in Sweden who did not want his name revealed, the group comprises Prime Minister Malik Mahmud, Foreign Affairs Minister Zaini Abdullah, and GAM spokesperson Bakhtiar Abdullah and their wives.

GAM leader, Hasan Tiro, is not included in the group. He will come as soon as the government is regarded to have fulfilled all the obligations stated in the Helsinki Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The coming of Malik and his colleagues aims to confirm that the MoU signed on August 15 last year has been met. The next item on the agenda is to ask for the reports of the unsolved issues and to monitor the development of the discussion on the Aceh Government Bill.

A Democratic Party faction politician, Boy M.W. Saul, asked the GAM leaders to follow the procedures for foreigners. “Because they are no longer Indonesian citizens, they must obtain visas first to enter Indonesia.”

What if they want to be Indonesian citizens? “No problem, as long as they are willing to acknowledge the sovereignty of the Indonesian unitary state and accept Pancasila (Indonesia's national principles),” said Boy.

The Chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Tjahjo Kumolo had a similar opinion, “This country is a country of laws. Foreigners who want to enter Indonesia must have the visas in their pockets,” he said.

Wahyudin Fahmi and Imron Rosyid