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Amnesty request for Din Minimi to be processed
National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Sutiyoso (standing far right) poses with an armed group led by former Free Aceh Movement (GAM) combatant Din Minimi in Ladang Baro village, Julok subdistrict in eastern Aceh on Tuesday
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National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Sutiyoso (standing far right) poses with an armed group led by former Free Aceh Movement (GAM) combatant Din Minimi in Ladang Baro village, Julok subdistrict in eastern Aceh on Tuesday. Din and his 120 followers surrendered after President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo vowed that the group would be granted an amnesty. (Antara/Yusri) (BIN) chief Sutiyoso (standing far right) poses with an armed group led by former Free Aceh Movement (GAM) combatant Din Minimi in Ladang Baro village, Julok subdistrict in eastern Aceh on Tuesday. Din and his 120 followers surrendered after President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo vowed that the group would be granted an amnesty. (Antara/Yusri)
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span class="caption">National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Sutiyoso (standing far right) poses with an armed group led by former Free Aceh Movement (GAM) combatant Din Minimi in Ladang Baro village, Julok subdistrict in eastern Aceh on Tuesday. Din and his 120 followers surrendered after President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo vowed that the group would be granted an amnesty. (Antara/Yusri)
The government will process the amnesty requested by former Free Aceh Movement (GAM) combatant Din Minimi following his surrender, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said on Thursday.
Jokowi said the government welcomed the submission of Nurdin bin Ismail, also known as Din Minimi, and his group.
"We will grant it, but there is a process to follow," he said as quoted on the Cabinet Secretariat website, setkab.go.id, on Thursday.
Jokowi said the government had long urged members of the group hiding in the forests of Aceh to lay down their arms and join government efforts to develop the province.
When asked by journalists whether Din and his 120 followers would be legally processed or automatically granted amnesty, Jokowi said he would find the best solution.
"The group had long wanted to surrender," he said during a visit to Papua.
Jokowi said that part of the approach to armed groups was the promise of processing every request for amnesty.
"We will process it with a soft approach. If there are difficulties, then we will take firm action. But everything must be fully considered before we make a decision," he said.
Din and his group surrendered to the government as witnessed by National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Sutiyoso on Tuesday. The group agreed to surrender after being promised amnesty for any crimes committed. The group also handed over dozens of guns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
Din's group was blamed for several attacks in Aceh in the past three years and for the deaths of two soldiers and several kidnappings in the country's westernmost province.
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) lawmaker Effendi Simbolon slammed the government's plan to grant amnesty to Din's group.
The House of Representatives defense and security affairs commission member said it was wrong for the government to compromise with insurgents.
He warned that the amnesty would only led to an upsurge in separatist movements. (rin)
