GAM Rumored to be Near Split in Run-Up to Irwandi’s Inauguration
Thursday, 08 February, 2007 | 14:26 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Banda Aceh: One week before the inauguration of Irwandi Yusuf and M. Nazar, elected as Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam leaders, the rumors of conflict among Free Aceh Movement (GAM) groups has been heard in Aceh.

The GAM group in Bireun, Eastern Aceh, is rumored to be in dispute with the groups from Jeunip in the West and Matang Glimpang II in the Eastern part of Aceh.

“Third parties spread this rumor,” said GAM Sago Commander in Matang Glumpang II who did not wish his/her name to be revealed, adding, “They want to spoil the situation.”

The rumor of a GAM split has been in the air since regional leaders’ election was still ongoing.

The third parties, said the source, spread rumors about arguments between the H2O (Humam - Hasbi) regional leaders candidates group and Irwandi – M. Nazar group.

These grew louder last week.

The rumors made GAM leaders respond.

Last Sunday, hundreds of motorcycles and two cars driven by GAM youths in Bireun were seen heading to Jeunib.

Sago Commander of Matang Glumpang confirmed reports of the convoy.

However, the commander disagreed that GAM was in conflict.

“It's recreation, there's no uproar, we only had a convoy together for recreation,” said the source.

The source explained that having met the group in the west (Jeunib), there were not any problems between the two groups.

The source then concluded that the rumor of splitting was spread in order to distract the situation in the run-up to the regional leaders’ inauguration.

Darwis Jeunib, former GAM Commander of Bate Ilik, told Tempo that he also disputed there was any conflict with the eastern group.

He said he believed that third parties were seriously trying to break GAM apart.

IMRAN MA | ADI WARSIDI