Abdullah Syafi'i

Dr. H. Abdullah Syafi'i
Nickname(s)	Teungku Lah
Born	(1947-10-12)12 October 1947 Seuneubok Rawa, Peusangan, Bireuen, Aceh
Died	22 January 2002(2002-01-22) (aged 54) Jim-jim, Bandar Baru, Pidie Jaya, Aceh
Allegiance	Free Aceh Movement
Years of service	1976–2002
Rank	General
Unit	National Acehnese Army (TNA)
Battles/wars	Insurgency in Aceh †

Perkasa Alam Teungku Abdullah Syafi is better known as Teungku Lah is a GAM fighter figure. He once served as Commander of the Free Aceh Movement.

Early life

Teungku Abdullah Syafi'i or Teungku Lah is a very charismatic GAM Commander, respected by friends and feared by opponents. Among his troops, Teungku Lah was known to be very firm but polite. He is also polite and modest.

Teungku Lah is the leader of GAM's military wing. He once served as Commander of GAM for the Pidie Region, and most recently as Commander of the Free Aceh Movement throughout Sumatra. It is said that Teungku Lah led GAM guerrillas in the Bireuen area for more than 20 years.

Teungku Lah did not receive military education in Libya, like Arjuna or Ahmad Kandang. This is what makes him not really like the use of violence in fighting. The power of weapons is only for self-defense.

Teungku Lah was born in Gampong Seuneubok Rawa, Peusangan, Bireuen, about four kilometers from Jalan Medan-Banda Aceh, Matang Glumpang Dua area, Bireuen. Only three kilometers of the connecting road to the village is well paved, while another kilometer or so is full of gravel and dust. In some parts you can still see traces of peeling asphalt. On either side of the road, there is a wide expanse of rice fields, connected by shady and beautiful hilly areas.

In that village, Teungku Abdullah Syafie was born. If we refer to the information written on the grave of Blang Sukon, Cubo, Pidie Jaya, he was born on October 17, 1947. Meanwhile, in a lot of information in the media, he was written as being born in 1952. No one knows which version is correct. However, her sister, Fatimah, has a different statement. According to him, his older brother was born around 1955. He only studied up to grade three at the Peusangan State Madrasah Aliyah. Leaving the school, Teungku Lah chose to study religion at a number of Islamic boarding schools in Aceh. Teungku Lah became involved with GAM in early 1980 (there is also news that Teungku Lah joined GAM the day after Hasan Tiro proclaimed GAM in Gunong Halimon).

In fact, Teungku Lah's youth was unique. He is often seen in the theater world with the Jeumpa group. Very far from being military. However, recently, this really helped Teungku Lah in terms of disguise. Teungku Lah's mobility was not detected. Acehnese people say that Teungku Lah has ileume peurabon (the science of eliminating oneself).

Commander of GAM

At first he led a platoon from the Tiro Central Command Headquarters. In May 1995, Teungku Lah's troops joined Mantri Hamid Idris' troops based in Geulumpang Minyeuk. This troop has around 15 weapons of various types and was classified as a large GAM troop before the reform era.

On January 1, 1996, Teungku Lah was appointed Commander of GAM Tiro Central Command replacing Commander Tgk. Handler Rasyid died in mid-1995. After reform, the Aceh conflict escalated. Teungku Lah, who is the Supreme Commander of GAM, automatically becomes the TNI's number 1 fugitive.

Died

Teungku Abdullah Syafie died on January 22, 2002, in Jiem-Jiem, Bandar Baru, Pidie in an ambush by the TNI. His wife (Fatimah bint Abdurrahman) and two of her bodyguards named Muhammad bin Ishak and Muhammad Daud bin Hasyim were also killed in the attack. The four were buried behind Teungku Lah's house in Cubo, Pide Jaya on January 24, 2002.

Before he died, Teungku once made a will, "If one day you hear the news that I have been martyred, don't feel sad and discouraged. Because I always pray to Allah SWT to make me a martyr when Aceh's independence is very close. I don't want to get any position if this country (Aceh) becomes independent."