Indonesian Government Must Prove Connection between Hasan Tiro and GAM

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:The Indonesian government must prove there is a connection between Hasan Tiro, a leading figure of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) who resides in Sweden, and GAM, a separatist movement that has attempted to separate Aceh from Indonesia, in order to follow up the request of Sweden government for concrete proof on Tiro and GAM. The Swedish government has requested this before they take any against on Tiro. I think the government will find much proof indicating this connection, DPR Speaker Akbar Tandjung told reporters at the legislature complex, Jakarta, on Thursday (08/05). The Indonesian government earlier demanded that the Swedish government take legal measures on Tiro as he was considered of having sponsored the separatist movement in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam province. However, the Swedish government refused to take legal measures against Tiro because it considered he had used his rights to express his opinion. The Swedish government also claimed it had no concrete proof on a connection between Tiro, who has now become a citizen of Sweden, with the GAM and requested for proof from the Indonesian government. According to Akbar, Tiros leaving to Sweden actually indicated his intention to support the Aceh separatist movement. With this proofs, we hope that the Swedish government could take measures against Hasan Tiro according to international law, stated Akbar. (Budi Riza--Tempo News Room)