http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Hasan-Tiro,-leader-of-Aceh%E2%80%99s-independence-struggle,-is-dead-18577.html
» 06/03/2010 12:02
INDONESIA
Hasan Tiro, leader of Aceh's independence struggle, is dead
by Mathias Hariyadi
He was Indonesia's Public Enemy Number One for a long time. Only yesterday, he
had his Indonesian citizenship restored. His declaration of independence in
1976 unleashed a bloody civil war that left thousands of people dead. After
years in exile in Sweden, he came back to his native land in 2008 upon
invitation of President Yudhoyono.
Jakarta (AsiaNews) - Teungku Hasan Muhammad di Tiro, founder of the Free Aceh
Movement (GAM) and better known as Hasan Tiro, died today in Banda Aceh,
Nanggroe Aceh province, at the age of 85. The charismatic leader for Aceh
independence died in his homeland, a day after he officially regained his
Indonesian citizenship from Air Marshall (ret.) Djoko Suyanto, Minister of
Legal, Security and Law Affairs.
Hasan Tiro had requested his Indonesian citizenship be restored, stressing that
"the war is now over" and "I want to live peacefully in my native homeland in
Aceh."
Citizenship was granted yesterday, 2 June, in the provincial capital of Banda
Aceh, from the hands of Irwandi Yusuf, Aceh governor and former GAM military
chief, who handed the papers to Malik Mahmud, one of Hasan Tiro's closest aide
and a former GAM prime minister, and to Fauzi Abidin, a close friend of the
Tiro family.
"Granting the citizenship was decided for humanitarian reasons and the much
improved political situation in Aceh," a government official said in Jakarta.
Malik Mahmud, who spent many years in exile in Sweden, said that he was happy
that citizenship was granted because "it would strengthen the path of peace" in
the Aceh.
Hasan Tiro set foot on his native soil in October 2008, after almost 30 years
of exile, receiving a hero's welcome. He had fled to Sweden on 29 March 1979.
Indonesia's former Public Enemy Number One was able to come home on the
invitation of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
On 4 November 1976, he declared the independence of Aceh province, unleashing a
bloody civil war between the Indonesian armed forces and the rebels, which
ended only in 2005 with the signing of a "truce" between the central government
and rebel leaders, Hasan Tiro and Malik Mahmud.
The signing ceremony took place on 15 August 2005 in Helsinki, Finland.
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See also10/13/2008 INDONESIA
Aceh gives a hero's welcome to former 'Enemy Number 1' Hasan Tiro
by Mathias Hariyadi
07/18/2005 INDONESIA
Government, Aceh rebels agree to peace deal
05/03/2005 INDONESIA
Jakarta warns NGOs in Aceh not to interfere if they wish to stay
08/09/2004 INDONESIA
Christians and Muslims hope for peaceful coexistence in Maluku Islands
02/08/2007 INDONESIA
Aceh: ex-separatist leader sworn in as new governor
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