AFTER going through complicated negotiations for half a year at Helsinki, and after the fifth round of talks, the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) finally agreed to remain in the Republic of Indonesia. One of the requirements was that Acehnese would be allowed to form local political parties. This requirement shocked many people.

All GAM decisions, it is known, came under the control of Malik Mahmud al-Haytar, 67. Three years ago, GAMs top leader, Hasan d