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| Southeast Asia |
| Governor-elect under pressure to disband GAM |
| 2006-12-18 |
| Aceh's new governor-elect is under mounting pressure to disband the rebel Free Aceh Movement (GAM), which fought for independence for 30 years. Former GAM rebel Irwandi Yusuf survived war and 2004's tsunami to win Aceh's governorship in a landslide victory last week. Good idea. It's kinda crossing your signals when you're the governer, responsible for civil administration, and also a member of a rebel group. In a dispute reminiscent of disagreements between Papuan separatists and Jakarta over the raising of the Morning Star Flag, GAM has been told by the chief of Aceh's outgoing EU-led monitoring mission to disband within six months. It has also been asked to abandon the flag, which was the symbol of GAM's 30 year war for independence. Though not yet officially governor, Mr Yusuf has already committed himself to preventing the extension of Sharia law enforcement to include cutting off the hands of thieves. |
| Posted by:Fred |