Tempo Magazine
Monday, 5 June, 2006

About 100 GAM figures began to arrive at the Dayan Dawood Building, Syiah Kuala University, Banda Aceh, from 8am on Sunday (5/21), for a big gathering of all GAM leaders from outside and within the country.

A number of former GAM soldiers (TNA) stood guard over the event. Some remained outside while others stood by the gate to the hall on the third floor of the building. Seen arriving were GAM figures who are still foreign citizens: Prime Minister Malek Mahmud, Zaini Abdullah, Munawar Liza Zein, Bakhtiar Abdullah and others.

Local GAM figures from Aceh were Irwandi Yusuf, Muchsalmina, Sofyan Dawood and former GAM commander Muzakkir Manaf. In addition, those present were also GAM leaders from across Aceh and Aceh community figures. "This closed-door meeting will last two days," said Aceh Transitional Committee (KPA) spokesman, Sofyan Dawood, as the meeting was about to begin.

According to him, almost all GAM figures from abroad were attending the event. They came from Sweden, Denmark, Norway, the United States, Australia and Malaysia. The meeting was intended to strengthen their civil movement in Aceh. The GAM figures would share their views on how to devise a strong political strategy. In fact, those who have so far resided overseas brought with them political concepts from Europe and America.

Items for discussion on the agenda included familiarization with the MoU, preparations to establish a political party, the safeguarding of the Aceh Governance Bill (RUU-PA) and a political strategy in the run-up to the Aceh regional government head elections (pilkada). "We'll build a force to engage in politics in line with the MoU," said Sofyan.

The meeting was inseparable from GAM's desire to form a local political party following the ratification of the RUU-PA by the legislature in Jakarta. GAM's invitation to several representatives of the Aceh community was meant to show that the future political party will belong not only to GAM but also to the entire Aceh community.

The pilkada would also become a special subject of discussion, according to Sofyan. "Our discussion will relate to all forms of mechanisms to make a success of the peace," said the former GAM TNA spokesman.

The Free Aceh Movement (GAM) formally announced the establishment of a new political party Tuesday and appointed two independent candidates to take part in the next direct gubernatorial elections in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam.

Sofyan denied reports of a possible coalition with the United Development Party (PPP)-GAM will join the pilkada through independent candidacy. "If it is not possible, we might not enter the arena. We're not going to join other parties," he affirmed.

He explained that GAM would not take shelter under another party, but stand on its own feet. He told the people that GAM would establish a party and also produce independent candidates for participation later in the pilkada.

The KPA spokesman also refuted the reported designation of Hasbi Abdullah, a GAM figure, and Humam Hamid of the PPP, as candidates for the Aceh pilkada which will probably be held in October.

Sofyan said the names of GAM's independent candidates had not been decided yet. Most probably the matter would be announced during the meeting. Most importantly, the matter would depend on the RUU-PA. "If it (RUU) is already clear and ratified, we'll make preparations for the pilkada right away."

Tempo's source within GAM said the possible independent candidate from GAM for the pilkada is Hasbi Abdullah, the younger brother of GAM Foreign Minister Zaini Abdullah. But as to whom he will be paired with, "the information is not certain yet. We'll just see later on," said the source.

Meanwhile, Irwandi Yusuf, a GAM representative in the Aceh Monitoring Mission (AMM) told Tempo some time ago that GAM had not named its representatives for the upcoming elections. He claimed that the reported GAM-PPP coalition was just an idea.

He also confirmed that GAM might enter (the pilkada) through independent candidacy. "The candidates haven't been decided yet, since it will be easy for GAM," he said.

According to him, whatever GAM intends doing is aimed at preserving peace and giving the best to the Aceh people. For the moment GAM will continue to devise a political strategy for preparations to build a local party and name independent candidates for participation in the pilkada. "We'll discuss the conclusion in detail later on, pending [ratification of] the RUU," he said to Tempo.

GAM has the potential and strength to win the political event in Aceh, according to Mawardi Ismail, an analyst of Aceh sociopolitical affairs. "However, this will depend on the approach they make to the people," he said.

According to him, GAM should continue to make political familiarization and consolidation among the people. It remains difficult to guess who the Aceh people will support in the pilkada. As such, the field remains open.

According to Mawardi, GAM does not yet have a strong political base to join the pilkada through its independent candidates or without a coalition. It would be better if at the moment GAM coalesces with another party in the pilkada. "The right time for GAM will be in the next period in 2009, as they will have had political power," he said.

Arman, a Banda Aceh resident, said GAM is still politically strong in Aceh, especially in the pilkada. He sees its power among the low-level rural population. "Many of them have lost trust in the existing political parties because their lives have never changed. Their only hope is in a new [political party]," he said.

Mawardi himself favors GAM's leadership in Aceh. His reason: those who have never formally led Aceh will have the backing and sympathy of almost all the people in the rural areas who were often marginalized in matters of social welfare.

He said that the most important thing now is to maintain lasting peace in Aceh, and that the elections must not make the public figures forget the ordinary people. "The leader, whoever he is, should be committed to peace so that the common people like us will find it easy to make our livelihood." (Adi Warsidi).