T

he Aceh provincial administration has been rocked by statements from a number of former Free Aceh Movement (GAM) members expressing their intention to join the Islamic State (IS) group.

'€œI very much regret the statements. Fellow former GAM members should communicate,'€ Aceh Governor Zaini Abdullah said on Wednesday.

Zaini said his administration, which is dominated by former GAM leaders, had not spoken to the former GAM members in question.

'€œWe'€™ve heard the statements, but we haven'€™t taken any further action yet,'€ said the GAM cofounder.

During a media conference in Idi Rayeul, East Aceh, on Monday afternoon, Fakhruddin bin Kasem, alias Din Robot, a former GAM regional vice commander, said he and several other former GAM combatants were ready to join IS and leave for Syria.

Fakhruddin said he had asked the Aceh Team of Muslim Lawyers (TPM) for technical advice before he and his fellows left to fight in the Middle East.

On Wednesday, TPM leader Safaruddin said he had communicated with Zaini regarding financial aid to send former GAM members to Syria.

Tribunnews.com reported that the TPM had sent a letter asking for support from the Aceh governor, should he be willing to provide assistance by issuing passports and travel expenses for a number of former combatants.

'€œThe letter has reached the general affairs division and will immediately be conveyed to the governor,'€ said Safaruddin.

The letter from the TPM, signed by Safaruddin, has also been forwarded to President Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo and the speaker of the Aceh provincial council (DPRD).

According to Safaruddin, the TPM head has not communicated with IS regarding former GAM combatants'€™ desire to join the movement.

'€œWe'€™re not aware of the procedures involved in joining IS. We haven'€™t discussed that far,'€ said Safaruddin.

Separately, the deputy head of the Aceh Party, which was founded by former GAM combatants, Kamaruddin Abubakar, said the former GAM members'€™ stated intention to join IS was a red herring. The Aceh Party, he said, viewed the statements as an attempt to stir up trouble within the province.

'€œIt'€™s impossible. It'€™s not easy to join IS. It'€™s an international issue,'€ said Kamaruddin.

Fakhruddin'€™s claim, he said, of financial motivations behind his desire to join IS did not bear out, adding that former GAM members should cooperate to improve the economic situation of their onetime comrades-in-arms.

Fakhruddin is a former aide to Din Minimi, an ex-combatant currently being pursued by police for allegedly killing two TNI soldiers some time ago. Din Minimi'€™s group often resorts to armed crimes around East Aceh, with the stated aim of improving its members'€™ living conditions.