Will Aceh Cease Defiance? Worst hit by the tsunami, most isolated, northern Sumatra is home to the Aceh people. Credited with introducing Islam to the archipelago and notorious for building a spirit of defiance, Aceh's most recent independence movement GAM (Gerakan Aceh Merdeka) has been resisting what they consider colonialist control by the Indonesian government since 1976. In response the Indonesian military has closed off Aceh to most international organizations, designating it a military operations area; but in this most isolated theater of tsunami relief, can extreme separatism survive natural disaster? The GAM will have no reason to accept Vice-President Jusuf Kalla¹s offer announced to reporters last week of a permanent ceasefire unless he is able to mobilize a smooth machine for delivering aid; but how this disaster has affected the rebel¹s ability to fend off outsiders awaits the headlines of tomorrow¹s news. Their deep sense of defiance quite possibly could break under the imposing tsunami disaster, yet if aid is delayed to the province for any reasons, the GAM forces may acquire new inspiration for mustering resistance. Clearly for the Acehnese, the upcoming months of relief allocation could be a chance for restoring more than just ruined homes and displaced persons. ============================================================== (c) 2005 Millennium Relief & Development Services, vol. 5 no. 1 Insight is a publication of MRDS to interpret current events in light of the experience of members of our international network. 'Insight' archives and other information can be found on our website. 'Insight' may be freely copied with this citation. If you wish to be removed from this mailing list, simply reply and request to be removed. Millennium RDS, 5116 Bissonnet #358, Bellaire, TX 77401-4007 Tel: (713)961-5645 Fax: (713)961-5735 www.mrds.org insight@mrds.org