The Free Aceh Movement, or GAM is a separatist organization with a goal to get Aceh out of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. The conflict between the Indonesian government and GAM resulting from this disagreement has taken place since 1976 and caused the fall of almost 15,000 people. This movement is also known as Aceh Sumatra National Liberation Front (ASNLF).GAM was led by Hasan di Tiro for almost three decades residing in Sweden and Swedish citizenship. On June 2, 2010, he obtained Indonesian citizenship status, exactly the day before he died in Banda Aceh.
Broadly in Aceh, a very conservative Islamic religion is more practiced. This is different from the moderate application of Islam in most other parts of Indonesia. Cultural differences and the application of Islam between Aceh and many other parts of Indonesia is the most obvious cause of the conflict.In addition, secular policies in the administration of the New Order of President Soeharto (1965-1998) were highly unpopular in Aceh, where many Acehnese figures hated the policies of the central New Order government that promoted an 'Indonesian culture'.Furthermore, the location of Aceh province in the western tip of Indonesia caused widespread sentiments in Aceh province that remote leaders in Jakarta did not understand the problems of Aceh and were not sympathetic to the needs of Acehnese people and the different customs of Aceh.
Movement of Aceh Merdeka
Flag of GAM
Active December 4, 1976 - December 27, 2005 Country Indonesia Indonesia National Alliance, separatist Role of Guerrilla Headquarters, mountains, and forests in Aceh Lightweight rifle and dynamite Battle of the Uprising in Aceh Website www.asnlf.org, www.unpo.orgCommander and combatCommander at the moment
Hasan di Tiro (died)
Tengku Abdullah Syafi'i (died) Insignia Crescent mark and star Identity mark Initials "GAM"
Timeline Edit
On December 4, 1976 the initiator of the Free Aceh Movement Hasan di Tiro and some of his followers issued a statement against the government of Indonesia, which was held in the hilly region Halimon in Pidie district.the beginning of the founding period GAM official name used is AM, Aceh. By the Indonesian government in the period 1980-1990 the movement's name is said to GPK-AM.The armed repressive resistance of the movement received a strong response from the central government of Indonesia which finally held a military operation in the province of Aceh Special Region known as the DOM (Military Operation Area) in the latter half of the 80s until the late 90s, the operation has made the AM activists were forced to continue their struggle from exile.When the New Order regime and reforms took place in Indonesia, along with it the Free Aceh Movement re-existed and used the name of GAM as the identity of its organization.
The conflict between the Indonesian government and GAM continued until the government implemented the Military Emergency status in Aceh in 2003, after several dialogical processes that failed to reach an agreement between the Indonesian government and GAM activists.The conflict has at least suppressed armed activity by GAM, many of the GAM activists who fled out of Aceh and abroad.The earthquake and tsunami disaster of 26 December 2004 has forced conflict parties to return to the negotiating table for international initiation and mediation.
On February 27, 2005, GAM and the government of Indonesia started the negotiation phase in Venice, Finland.Former Finnish presidentMarti Ahtisaari served as a facilitator.
On July 17, 2005, after a 25-day negotiation, the Indonesian negotiating team reached a peace agreement with GAM in Vantaa, Helsinki, Finland. The signing of the memorandum of peace was held on August 15, 2005.The peace process is then monitored by a team called Aceh Monitoring Mission (AMM) consisting of five ASEAN countries and several countries that are members of the European Union.Among the key points is that the Indonesian government will also facilitate the formation of local political parties in Aceh and amnesty for GAM members.
Although, the peace is, in fact still leaves a problem that has not found a way out. For example, linked with Tapol / Napol Aceh who are still in prison Cipinang, Jakarta as Ismuhadi, et al.As well as the welfare issue of former GAM combat troops who tend to be enjoyed only by a handful of elites.
All 840 GAM weapons were handed over to the AMM on December 19, 2005. Then on December 27, GAM through its military spokesman, Sofyan Dawood, stated that their military wing had been formally disbanded.