LEGISLATOR: HASAN TIRO SHOULD AFFIRM ACEH IS PART OF RI

Jakarta, Oct 10 (ANTARA) - Former GAM (Free Aceh Movement) leader Hasan Tiro's coming to Aceh will be meaningful if as a respected figure he can affirm that Aceh is part of the Unitary State of the Indonesian Republic (NKRI), a legislator said here Friday.
Theo Sambuaga, chairman of the House of Representatives (DPR)'s Comission I, told Antara before leaving for Austria to represent the House at an Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) General Assembly meeting, "We welcome his arrival here as a figure whom Aceh people look up to, even though he has not become an Indonesian citizen yet."
Sambuaga said it was possible Hasan Tiro would be prompted to apply for Indonesian citizenship after visiting Aceh where he was born.
He said Hasan Tiro needed to watch in person the conditions in Aceh after the Helsinki agreement where peace prevailed and people were in high spirit to improve their welfare in the region as part of the Republic of Indonesia.
"As I have said earlier, Hasan Tiro should affirm to the Aceh people that he endorses reconciliation, acknowledges Aceh as a part of NKRI, and fully supports Aceh's development for its people's welfare," Sambuaga said.
Making such affirmations would be the right thing to do for Hasan Tiro, he said.
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