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Sumatra
Executive Summary |
Sumatra, at the north-westernmost edge of Indonesia, is an island of diverse ethnic populations and natural resources. At the northernmost tip is Aceh, home to the separatist movement, the Free Aceh Movement (GAM). GAM began in 1976 and has gained popular support and momentum in the post-Suharto period. From 1990 to 1998, the population of Aceh was violently repressed by the military as forces tried to eradicate GAM. Today, GAM continues to conduct a guerrilla war against the Indonesian military. Both the military and the rebel forces have been accused of human rights abuses, including arrests, “disappearances”, tortures, murders, and rapes. As of September 2001, an estimated 1,000 have been killed as a result of the violence.
Although the military and all Indonesian presidents since Suharto have formally apologized for crimes committed by the military, the Achenese population remains highly disillusioned with the central government and support for GAM has increased. Combined with this, dissatisfaction with the distribution of revenue derived from the province’s natural resources – specifically its natural gas and oil supplies – has increased following East Timor’s successful bid for independence.
Since becoming president, Megawati Sukarnoputri has shown signs of addressing problems in Aceh by signing into law a special autonomy bill for the province on August 11, 2001. It is due to enter into effect in 2002. However, the central government has unequivocally declared that it will not consider a referendum for self-determination. Vice-president Hamzah Haz is now in charge of the implementation of autonomy in Aceh. It remains to be seen whether the current government’s recent gestures will win popular support in Aceh, undermining the support base of GAM.
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