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| Southeast Asia |
| Indonesia: Ex-GAM rebel leader invited to Aceh for end-Ramadan celebrations |
| 2008-09-18 |
| (AKI/Jakarta Post) - The local government in Indonesia's Muslim-devout province of Aceh announced it is inviting former GAM separatist rebel leader Hasan Tiro to celebrate the end of the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. "From our meeting with Deputy Governor Muhammad Nazar, we have agreed to invite Hasan Tiro to Aceh," said a legislative council member, Mukhlis Mukhtar. Mukhtar said it would mean a lot for the people of Aceh to celebrate together with with local hero Hasan the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr - which marks the end of Ramadan. Hasan has lived in Stockholm, Sweden, for 25 years, from where he led the separatist GAM (Free Aceh) movement in exile. GAM and the Indonesian government signed in August 2005 a landmark peace accord in the Finnish capital, Helsinki, which ended a 29-year conflict in which an estimated 15,000 people died. Hasan has not yet returned to Indonesia. |
| Posted by:Fred |