GAM Anniversary Is Commemorated By Praying And Supporting Orphans

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Central Aceh Transitional Committee (KPA) Muzakir Manaf or Mualem instructed all former combatants of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) to commemorate the milad (birthday) on December 4 with joint prayers, support orphans and make a pilgrimage to the graves of fighters.

"Mualem instructed KPA ranks throughout Aceh to commemorate December 4 with donations for orphans, zikir, joint prayers, and pilgrimages to the graves of martyrs who had been martyred, that's Mualem's instruction," said KPA spokesman Azhari Cagee, in Banda Aceh, reported by Antara Friday, December 4th.

Ahzari conveyed that the aim of commemorating December 4 was so that the Acehnese people would not forget history. Moreover, that date is a historical past that has made an impression on Acehnese society and even the world today.

"December 4 is a history that happened in Aceh and is mandatory, cannot be forgotten. It must be remembered and this December 4, we commemorate as usual, prayers, zikr and pilgrimages," he said.

According to Azhari, regarding the issue of raising the flag which is linked every year before December 4, KPA did not order and did not prohibit the flying of the moon-star flag.

"We do not order and do not prohibit it, because it has become the flag of Aceh according to Qanun Number 3 of 2013. Later if we order and prohibit it will be considered the KPA flag, even though it is clearly the Aceh flag according to the qanun," said the former member of the Aceh DPR.

Therefore, continued Azhari Cagee, the one who has the right to follow up on the Aceh flag polemic is the Governor of Aceh together with the Aceh DPR.

In fact, in 2018 when he was still the Chairperson of Commission I of the Aceh DPR, he had handed over the moon star flag to Nova Iriansyah, who was then Deputy Governor of Aceh through a plenary session.

"He accepted and also promised to fight for it. Now, of course, the governor has the right to issue a governor, we hope he will immediately follow up, as he promised at that time," said the former GAM combatant again.