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grenades, several snapshots of GAM members armed with automatic weapons and a 
diskette with appeals for donations. More interesting, however, was the 
discovery of several video recordings of interrogations conducted on girls in 
the Cot Trieng that had relationships with members of the TNI. 

Indeed, GAM's position at Cot Trieng has increasingly been weakened as the 
siege laid by the TNI continues to intensify. GAM, which once controlled about 
nine sq km of the area, have been restricted to an area that is only four sq km 
in size _ areas that are mostly swamps with overgrown mangroves. And in 
reality, TNI now has control of GAM's former headquarters and more than half of 
the marshlands that were once occupied by the armed separatist movement. The 
security forces have continued to tighten their control of the area by being 
constantly moving and shooting, in an attempt to rid the GAM members. 

All members of the TNI were ready to charge forward and break GAM's resistance. 
It is understood that in Desa Keutapang, a village in Nisam, the TNI and GAM 
members were only 300 meters apart, separated by the deep swamps. Despite the 
short distance, however, TNI members were finding it difficult to spot the GAM 
members that were hiding since their views were blocked by the tall mangroves 
that reached about 4 meters above the water level. The only thing visible was 
the green color of the plants. 

"Thus, it was very possible that a GAM member and that a TNI soldier may be 
just 10 meters apart, but unaware of the each other's presence," says Brig. 
Gen. Bambang Darmono, Deputy Commander of Military Operations in Aceh, who adds 
that "because of the dense vegetation, bullets fired from an M-16 rifle or an 
SS-1 from 50 meters away may miss their targets." That was why the TNI then 
assigned heavy artilleries such as tanks to assist their plans to ambush GAM 
fighters. 

However, since the intention to sign a peace accord was made known, the plan to 
launch the ambush has been cancelled. TNI's chief-of-staff, General Endriartono 
says that since the afternoon of December 9, TNI has ceased all its field 
operations. 

The decision by the TNI commander was made while he was in Lhokseumawe and 
following a telephone call he received from the Coordinating Minister of 
National Security, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who was in Geneva. 

"They are no longer our enemy and the presence of the military forces will be 
reviewed immediately. More time, however, is required," Endriartono says. 

He has admitted too that the deployment of 2,900 TNI soldiers to Aceh last 
Thursday became an issue in Geneva. But the government has since assured all 
the parties involved that the troops were merely a replacement team. 

Meanwhile, the celebration to commemorate GAM's anniversary that was initially 
thought would create trouble did not posed any problems to the peace 
negotiations on December 9, despite the threat made by the TNI chief that he 
would resort to force if GAM proceed with the celebration. 

GAM apparently decided to hold the celebration a day earlier to confuse the 
security forces. The event, which was covered by the media, did not result in 
any untoward incidents. 

"Since 1976, we have organized the celebration, and it has always been 
peaceful," says Teuku Kamaruzzaman. "Thus, we proceeded with our independence 
day celebration, just as other countries would celebrate to commemorate their 
independence." 

Zaini Abdullah, a GAM leader in Sweden, had given his blessings for the 
celebration. However, he had insisted that there would be no strike. Indeed, 
for the first time this year, there was no order issued by GAM, as in previous 
years, to organize a strike. GAM, instead, ordered all its soldiers not to 
conduct any raids on public transport vehicles on the roads. The soldiers were 
even told not to attack TNI vehicles that may be passing through. 

Only Sofyan Daud, a spokesperson for GAM's military wing, advised Aceh 
residents against leaving their homes from morning till two in the afternoon 
during the commemoration day. He reasoned that it would prevent any untoward 
incidents from taking place. The advice, however, was heeded only till 10 in 
the morning. 

Still, Teuku Kamaruzzaman's promise that TNA would honor the Geneva accord may 
pose a problem. Operations head of TNA Command Center, Teuku Amri A. Wahab has 
insisted that he refuses to recognize the peace agreement. "We totally 
disagree," he told Wuragil from TEMPO. 

Such contradicting remarks have since raised doubts about the success of the 
Geneva accord. Indeed, trying to find a solution to the bloody conflict in Aceh 
that started in 1976 has not an easy task. 

Thankfully, however, the pressure and support from international community 
continue relentlessly in trying to seek a peaceful solution in Aceh. Canada and 
Australia have promised aids worth million of dollars. Germany and Japan, 
meanwhile, has announced their commitment towards the development of Aceh. 
Japan Foreign Minister Yoriko Kamaguchi says his country would provide economic 
assistance to the area known for its massive oil and gas resources. However, 
the assistance is only expected to flow after the peace agreement is 
implemented. 

The problem now, however, is what kind of peace is expected, and for how long, 
since the main reason for the conflict has yet to be resolved in the Geneva 
ceasefire agreement. Presently, Indonesia insist that Aceh remains part of the 
republic, while GAM leaders are adamant for "a democratic process for the 
Acehnese to decide their own fate." Apparently, the divide remains wide. 
-- Tjandra Dewi, Zainal Bakri (Lhokseumawe), Yuswardi A. Suud (Banda Aceh), TNR.
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Australian News Network
Woman killed in Aceh