Jakarta – Iskandar Muda Regional Military Commander, Major-General Sapiudin Yusuf, believes the shooting of Hong Kong foreign volunteer Eva Yee Wayeung was an attempt by the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) to demonstrate that their forces still have a presence.

This was conveyed by Yusuf on Friday June 24 at a political, legal and security affairs coordinating meeting. Yusuf also believes the incident indicates that GAM’s logistical provisions are continuing to shrink and as a result they are carrying out ambushes and robberies more frequently.

“Actually we have already recommended [enforcing] a regulation so that they [foreign volunteers] don’t go out at night time”, said Yusuf.

According to Yusuf, although there are security posts at dangerous points, the military hopes that foreign volunteers will cooperate. “If they need it, we are ready to provide escorts for as long as they request it”, he said.

Indonesian police chief, Police General Da’i Bachtiar says that the question at the moment is how can security forces continue to provide security guarantees for foreign volunteers under a state of civil authority. “When the reality is that armed GAM groups still exist there. Under the state of civil authority in Aceh the ordinary criminal code is in force, the same as here in Jakarta where there is no armed rebellion”, said Bachtiar.

On the question of providing security for foreign volunteers, Bachtiar said it is still being discussed. With regard to restricting foreign volunteers to certain areas however, that is not possible because it depends entirely on local conditions in relation to reconstruction efforts.

Present at the meeting was the Minister for Communication and Information, Sofyan Djalil, Armed Forces Chief General Endriartono Sutarto and the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Widodo AS.

After opening a national coordinating meeting of youth and sports affairs at the State Palace yesterday, Bachtiar said that in certain areas, security disturbances in the form of armed attacks by GAM are still frequent. On a number of occasions security forces have been attacked while carrying out their duties. The areas which have been identified as having a high level of security disturbances include the provincial capital of Banda Aceh, Bireun, Pidie and East Aceh. (INU/DWA)

[Translated by James Balowski.]