Agus Supriyanto, Jakarta – Hundreds of youths from the Commandos for the Defense of the Fatherland (Komando Bela Tanah Air, Kombat) demonstrated in front of the offices of Vice President Jusuf Kalla on Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan in Jakarta. They were demanding that the government end negotiations with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and called for the TNI (armed forces) to be maintained in Aceh.

The demonstrators burnt GAM flags and photographs of its leaders. “Save Aceh, destroy the GAM separatists and no compromise over NKRI1”, said action coordinator A Rizal when speaking with journalists on Thursday July 28.

According to Rizal, the government should not position the Aceh question as if it is only an issue between the government and GAM. The government should involve all components of the nation. “The government has made a terrible mistake especially in involving foreign parties”, he said.

Rizal also accused Kalla, who has been active in the negotiations with GAM, of having a hidden economic motive. He said that behind the negotiations there are foreign parties who are working in cooperation with the Bukaka Group2 and the Bakrie Group to work on rehabilitation projects in Aceh.

Notes:

1. NKRI – Negara Kesatuan Republik Indonesia, the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. A term which is often used in the context of nationalism and the desire to maintain the integrity of the Indonesian nation.

2. The Bukaka Group of companies is owned by the Jusuf Kalla family.

[Translated by James Balowski.]