Jakarta – Army chief Ryamrizard Ryacudu says that the TNI (armed forces) will continue to take a defensive position with regard to the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in spite of the fact that negotiations between GAM and the Indonesian government in Helsinki Finland have failed to produce an agreement.

Fedhly Averouss Bey, Jakarta – Army chief General Ryamizard Ryacudu says that a resolution to the conflict between the Republic of Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) doesn’t really need to be achieved through negotiations or a cease-fire. The only way that the conflict will end is if GAM surrenders to the TNI (armed forces).

Suliyanti, Jakarta – People’s Representative Assembly Commission I for Defense and Foreign Affairs is urging the military (TNI) to remain resolute and on guard against the armed separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM).

Fedhly Averouss Bey, Jakarta – The Aceh Working Group (AWG) opposes the plan to form the Special Authority Agency for Aceh because it has the potential to turn the Acehnese people into ‘objects’.

Astrid Felicia Lim, Jakarta – National Intelligence Agencey (BIN) chief Syamsir Siregar says that foreigners in Aceh definitely have specific interests other than the humanitarian mission. Based on BIN's data, as well as thousands of volunteers the number of foreign troops presently in Aceh has reached 19,000 personnel.

Mawar Kusuma, Jakarta – The People’s Representative Assembly (DPR) is to continue urging the US government to lift the arms embargo on Indonesia. This was revealed by the chairperson of the DPR’s defense commission, Theo Sambuaga, to Tempo when contacted by telephone on Sunday afternoon, January 16.