1,850 troops set for Aceh<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Military (TNI) will soon dispatch at least 1,850
\nreplacement troops to the rebellious Aceh province, Deputy Army
\nChief of Staff Lt. Gen. Kiki Syahnakrie said on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The force, scheduled to depart for Aceh early in April, will
\nconsist of 125 Marines and 100 elite Air Force personnel, with
\nthe rest of the troops coming from the Army, including 12
\ncompanies of search-and-destroy personnel, he said.<\/p>\n
Kiki said the troops had just completed special training on
\ntechnical skills and combat tactics in Cipatat, Bandung, and
\nCilacap, Central Java. The training began on March 4 and ended on
\nSaturday.<\/p>\n
\"The training was to prepare and improve the antiguerrilla
\noperational capabilities of Army hunters assigned for duty in
\nAceh,\" Kiki was quoted by Antara as telling journalists after
\nofficially closing the training in Cipatat, Bandung.<\/p>\n
Earlier on Saturday, TNI spokesman Maj. Gen. Sjafrie
\nSjamsoeddin said more than 42,000 troops had been assigned to
\ntrouble spots around the country, including Irian Jaya and
\nMaluku, with almost half this number being sent to Aceh.<\/p>\n
From April 2001 to March 2002, at least 122 military and
\npolice personnel have been killed and 411 injured in Aceh, he
\nsaid as quoted by Antara. Four others went missing and two were
\nkidnapped, according to Sjafrie.<\/p>\n
He also said at least 736 separatist rebels were killed in
\ngunfights and 292 others arrested during this same period, while
\n621 civilians died.<\/p>\n
From Feb. 10 to March 12 alone, at least 66 rebels, 17 police
\nofficers and military soldiers, and 44 civilians were killed in
\nAceh, he added.<\/p>\n
In a speech read by Kiki during Saturday's ceremony, Army
\nChief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto asked the soldiers to
\nmaintain the toughness and enthusiasm in Aceh that they showed
\nduring their training.<\/p>\n
\"(We do not want) anymore victims in the operational region
\ndue to the poor skills and professionalism of soldiers,\" the
\nspeech said.<\/p>\n
He also asked the troops to remain strong and to adjust to the
\nenvironment during their tour in Aceh.<\/p>\n
\"As chosen soldiers, use the trust (shown you) as motivation
\nto carry out your duties to defend the nation and country with
\nproud actions.<\/p>\n
\"But the tactical and technical skills you possess in
\nguerrilla warfare will be meaningless should the local people not
\nsupport you,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The Army chief also warned the troops against committing human
\nrights abuses in Aceh.<\/p>\n
The military and police have been accused of widespread human
\nrights violations in the province and other trouble regions
\nacross the country. However, no senior officer has been charged
\nwith rights abuses in Aceh.<\/p>\n
Kiki said separatist fighting was intensifying in at least
\nfour regions in Aceh -- North Aceh, Bireun, Pidie and East Aceh
\n-- and that the areas required special handling from the
\nauthorities.<\/p>\n
\"The security situation in the four regions is not as good as
\nin other (regions), so more troop deployments are needed there,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
\"Nevertheless, the security in those areas is better now than
\nit was last year,\" he added.<\/p>\n
The central government has granted wide-ranging autonomy to
\nthe rebellious province, including the enforcement of Islamic
\nlaw, or syariah.<\/p>\n
However, the special autonomy status has not appeased the Free
\nAceh Movement, which has long been campaigning for an independent
\nIslamic state in Aceh.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/1850-troops-set-for-aceh-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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