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1 1 (January 12, 2001)

handle is hein.crs/crsuntaaahc0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Order Code RS20572 Updated January 12, 2001 CRS Report for Congress Received through the CRS Web Indonesian Separatist Movement in Aceh Larry Niksch Specialist in Asian Affairs Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Summary hIndonesia's Presiden, AbdUrrahran Wahid, faces a major separatist insurgency In the provice of Ace in northern Siatra. alid has proposed autonomyn for Acelh, but emirgenctsdeand idepetdece. Negotiations forhacease-fiencontinue. Waid as beei unsable to control the n don esia mnilitary, whose agressive actions ini Aceh1 are producing reports of growig heman rights abuses anid alenati of the popu isloace. The Clntoin Adnihstration hsas offered adtice to Waid, iluding advice to see a political seflemint but it .as been hanesitact to deal sith the military's actions. The Indonesian government of President Abdurrahman Wahid, elected in October 1999, faces separatist movements in several parts of the Indonesian archipelago. The emergence and/or growth of these movements have been influenced by East Timor's decision for independence in a United Nations-sponsored referendum of August 31, 1999. The most serious of these movements is in the province of Aceh. Aceh is located on the northern tip of Sumatra, the westernmost of Indonesia's majorislands. Aceh is positioned on the Malacca Strait opposite Malaysia, a strategic waterway connecting the Pacific and Indian oceans. Aceh's population is estimated at five million. The population is predominantly Muslim. Aceh has abundant resources of natural gas and timber. Aceh exported $1.3 billion worth of natural gas in 1998.1 The Separatist Movement The leading separatist organization is Aceh Merdeka (Free Aceh), which came into existence in the 1970s and issued a declaration of independence in 1976. Aceh Merdeka, with the initials GAM, is waging an insurgency with a military force estimated between 800 and 2,000. The GAM is able to conduct guerrilla-style attacks in about half of the province. It appears to have achieved substantial public support, as evidenced by pro- independence demonstrations in late November 1999, which drew over 500,000 people. It appears to have a political organization throughout Aceh. It reportedly is able to collect taxes throughout Aceh. In January 2000, the commander of Indonesian police units in 1 Cohen, Margaret. Alarms in Aceh. Far Eastern Economic Review, November 18, 1999. p. 17- 18. Congressional Research Service The Library of Congress

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