HOME FREE: Free Aceh Movement (GAM) leaders living in exile in Sweden (left and center) Zaini Abdullah and Malik Mahmood, and Mohammed Nur Djuli (right), who resides in Malaysia, arrive Wednesday at Sultan Iskandar Muda Airport in Banda Aceh, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam. At least 20 GAM leaders made a historic return to their homeland after decades living abroad.(JP/Nani Afrida)
Cheers greet return of exiled GAM leaders
Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh
Leaders of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) were greeted by a stirring welcome from former members of the separatist group Wednesday on their return home after lengthy self-imposed exile abroad.
Strict security measures were enforced by the former GAM members as hundreds of people thronged Banda Aceh's Iskandar Muda Airport.
"We came here to welcome the GAM leaders...indeed, we have waited for them for such a long time," said Azmi, a 40-year-old who was jailed during the imposition of military emergency status in the province.
The aircraft carrying 11 GAM leaders, including the former designated prime minister Malik Mahmood and health minister Zaini Abdullah, touched down at 4 p.m.
The entourage was immediately greeted by a traditional Ranub Lampuan welcome dance, before traveling to GAM's representative office in Lamdingin, Banda Aceh. Notable in his absence was frail Tengku Hasan di Tiro, whom GAM considers its rightful head of state.
The GAM leaders in the party all have temporary visas to visit Indonesia, Ben Drajat, charge d'affaires at the Indonesian Embassy in Stockholm, told Reuters.
"Almost all of the leaders are going to Indonesia except Hasan di Tiro," said Drajat, confirming that Malik would have to leave after two months, while GAM spokesman Bakhtiar Abdullah was given a multiple-entry visa for one year.
"I'm happy as I can come home to Aceh. This peace is what GAM has struggled for all this time," Malik said at a press conference.
Malik, a 30-year resident of Sweden, said he wanted to observe the situation in the province following the December 2004 tsunami and last August's peace deal.
"In the event there has not been any progress, it can be settled together with the Indonesian government," Malik said.
Bakhtiar said Sunday the GAM leaders would transfer authority to create a political party from the newly established Free Aceh Movement Council, also known as Majelis GAM.
When asked about the citizenship status of GAM leaders who took other nationalities during their exile, Malik said it would be up to them as individuals to decide.
He expressed confidence Jakarta would not reject requests by leaders who wished to revert to Indonesian citizenship. "This is an easy thing ... not difficult," said Malik, who has reportedly held Singaporean citizenship since the 1970s.
Iskandar Muda Military Commander Maj. Gen. Supiadin AS hoped the GAM leaders' presence would ensure peace in Aceh.
"We hope their return will help speed up the spirit to implement commitments outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding signed in Helsinki for the sake of creating everlasting peace in Aceh," he said.
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