WIVES OF GAM LEADERS DISAPPEAR

September 24, 2003 – (The Jakarta Post) The wives of several Free Aceh Movement (GAM) leaders have disappeared in the past week, with the rebels pointing their fingers at the Indonesian military.

GAM spokesman for North Aceh region Teungku Jamaika said Tuesday that the wives of three GAM leaders -- GAM commander for Aceh Rayeuk in North Aceh Teungku Nasir, deputy GAM commander for Aceh Rayeuk Teungku Muharram, and GAM officer Teungku Ampon -- have gone missing in the past week.

The wife of Teungku Ishak Daud, GAM commander for East Aceh, Cut Rostina Ismail, was reportedly also missing.

Military operation spokesman Lt. Col. Ahmad Yani Basuki admitted Tuesday that they took Ishak Daud's wife but stressed that she had been released on Monday.

Yani said the military had brought Rostina and two children -- a 2-year-old and a baby of nine months -- to her in-laws home in Tepian Jaring Kuala village, Idi Rayeuk regency, East Aceh, on Monday.

According to Yani, troops had earlier secured information on Ishak Daud's presence at a house in Gaseh Sayang village, Idi Cut regency, East Aceh.

"Troops at Idi Cut military command post raided the house on Sunday, but only Rostina was there," he said.

Yani also admitted that the military had once detained and questioned the wife of GAM military commander Muzakkir Manaf.

"But she cannot give much information. Moreover, the wives of GAM officials are not TNI operation targets, so we just released them with no strings attached," he added.

However, Ishak Daud claimed on Tuesday there was still no sign of his wife and children returning to any of his relatives.

"I don't know what has been going on with my wife and children because I have not seen.

"What kind of military tactic is this? My wife is not a rebel nor a member of the Inong Balee which has a structure in GAM. It's not a civilized way," Ishak told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday, adding that he would try to provide a lawyer for his wife should the military interrogate her.

Inong Balee is a woman's organization subordinate to GAM. Most of its members are Acehnese women who decided to join the movement due to various reasons, including the deaths of their husbands and families in the prolonged war against government soldiers.

Teungku Nazir's wife Erlinawati Zainun disappeared last Friday with her three children aged six, three, and one respectively. Nazir's sister-in-law Apriyani, 25, and her children Surya, 5, and Diana, 2, were also taken with Erlinawati.

Teungku Ampon's wife Fithri Wahab, 25, and their child Cut Fonna, 2, were snatched from their home last Friday.

"We still don't know their whereabouts," Teungku Jamaika said.

The government launched on May 19 the so-called joint operation aimed at cracking down on GAM rebels who have been fighting for independence for the resource-rich Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam province since 1976. Over 10,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed since then.