TNI Commander Responds to GAM Flag Raising: I Will Take Firm Action

JAKARTA - TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto responded to the incident of the hanging of a cloth umbrella that resembled the flag of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) during the dissolution of the action in Lhokseumawe City, Aceh, which had been colored by tension.

Agus stated that he would take firm action against groups that carried out provocations, including raising the GAM flag, amid the government's and community's efforts to accelerate the handling of flood and landslide disasters.

"The TNI and all ministries and agencies and the community are working to help accelerate the recovery from natural disasters. I hope that there are no groups that provoke that interfere with the process," said Agus in a post-disaster recovery and strategic planning press conference at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, Jakarta, Monday, December 29, reported by ANTARA.

The commander said that all ministries and agencies, including TNI-Polri personnel, worked together to accelerate the recovery of natural disasters, especially in Aceh Province.

Therefore, Agus will take firm action against groups that try to provoke. "I will take firm action if there are groups like that," said Agus.

For information, Danrem 011/Lilawangsa Colonel Inf. Ali Imran explained that the dissolution of the action on the Lintas Banda Aceh National Road, Medan or precisely at Simpang Kandang, Meunasah Mee, Muara Dua, Lhokseumawe City was tinged with tension.

Despite the heated discussion, the dissolution by the police took place without violence, and used a persuasive approach to the community.

The cloth with the pattern resembling the GAM flag was handed over voluntarily by the crowd and gradually dispersed.

The police who were on duty also managed to secure a man who was suspected of being a provocateur in the action of raising the GAM flag because he was carrying a bag containing firearms in the form of a pistol and a sharp-edged weapon.