ABRI 'cannot follow up Aceh rights abuses'<\/p>\n
By Ridwan Max Sijabat<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Acehnese, still hurting from the violence
\ninflicted during the years of antiseparatist military operations,
\nare now demanding justice.<\/p>\n
Many Acehnese leaders have said that Armed Forces (ABRI)
\nCommander Gen. Wiranto's apologies last August mean nothing
\nunless past rights abuse cases are resolved.<\/p>\n
The following is an excerpt from an interview with Chief of
\nArmy Strategic Reserves Command Lt. Gen. Djamari Chaniago during
\na Hercules C-130 flight from Lhokseumawe in Aceh to Jakarta on
\nFriday.<\/p>\n
Question: What do you think about the demands for justice that
\nthe Acehnese are making?<\/p>\n
Answer: The military operation in Aceh was part of the 32-year
\nNew Order government's policy of maintaining national stability,
\nwhich was considered a prerequisite for economic development
\nprograms at the time. Former president Soeharto declared Aceh,
\nEast Timor and Irian Jaya as military operation zones (DOM) to
\nput down separatist groups in the three provinces.<\/p>\n
The military operation in Aceh, which began in 1978, was aimed
\nat quashing Free Aceh separatist rebels and winning over the
\nlocal people's hearts to support a united republic, the
\ngovernment and the development program.<\/p>\n
During the military operations in the jungles and remote areas
\nof Aceh, troops were not always able to discern rebels from the
\nordinary people because they were all living together in
\nvillages. And this caused many victims to fall.<\/p>\n
How many people were killed during the military operations?<\/p>\n
During the operations, troops and rebels were involved in
\nshootings. There was an exchange of fire, causing many deaths on
\nboth sides.<\/p>\n
It is wrong for the Aceh people to demand that ABRI be solely
\nresponsible for the deaths. Many troops were also killed in the
\noperations.<\/p>\n
Of course, ABRI has admitted to have committed murders, but
\nnot all of the deaths should be blamed on the military. They
\nshould be blamed on the separatist groups too.<\/p>\n
Last year, the National Commission of Human Rights discovered
\nhuman remains in mass graves. It said more than 781 people were
\nkilled during the military operations.<\/p>\n
ABRI is of the opinion that both ABRI and the (separatist)
\nguerrillas committed murders. Besides, the Dutch (colonial)
\ntroops also killed many people when they were trying to occupy
\nthe province in the early years of this century. The people
\ncannot therefore ask ABRI to be held responsible for all these
\ndeaths.<\/p>\n
Many have testified about the military using brutal tactics in
\nits raids.<\/p>\n
Troops were forced to commit 'sadism' because they, too, were
\ntreated sadistically. Troops were trained in the battlefield,
\nwhere they had to take revenge if fellow soldiers were beheaded.
\nSo it will be impossible for the government and the military to
\nfollow up the findings of the rights bodies.<\/p>\n
It would be better for the nation to leave the past behind it,
\nand to draw a line separating the present from the past, so that
\nit can work hard to defuse the current crisis and to develop the
\ncountry. An investigation into the rights violations will bring
\nnothing but prolonged polemics.<\/p>\n
Do you believe the majority of the people of Aceh want to
\nbuild an independent state?<\/p>\n
Just like in Irian Jaya and East Timor, the separatist groups
\nare a minority and their campaign for the majority's sympathy
\nwill not be successful.<\/p>\n
The separatist group led by Ahmad Kandang in North Aceh has
\naround 100 armed members. Its activities are financed by Hasan
\nTiro (a separatist leader said to be living in Sweden), and a
\nsmall Aceh community living in Malaysia. A number of their
\nmembers have been trained in Libya. Their present activities are
\nbased on terrorism and intimidation.<\/p>\n
I believe, however, they will not be able to persuade or force
\nthe Acehnese to support their movement because they would face
\nresistance from the majority who still support a united
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
This is also true considering the history of Aceh, which has
\ngiven considerable moral and material contributions to the
\ncountry since before independence (in 1945) until now. This is
\nthe special pride of the Acehnese.<\/p>\n
Many Aceh people are still angry about ABRI's brutality.<\/p>\n
ABRI's poor performance and its poor image has a lot to do
\nwith the government's policies in the province in the past.<\/p>\n
In this era of reform, ABRI will continue to revamp its
\norganization and reposition itself in term of its dual function
\nin defense and politics.<\/p>\n
Please bear in mind that ABRI has lifted the military
\noperation zone status, and has begun to employ a more humane
\napproach in handling problems in the predominantly Muslim
\nprovince. It has pulled out a majority of combat soldiers from
\nthe province. This is expected to indirectly help regain the
\npeople's confidence in the government and the military.<\/p>\n
Some Acehnese religious leaders, students and non-governmental
\norganizations have said that troops continue to use the same
\napproach to security, and still oppress the people.<\/p>\n
It is not ABRI's policy.<\/p>\n
ABRI has also encouraged people to report to ABRI leaders any
\nservicemen committing crimes or treating them inhumanely. It must
\nbe acknowledged that many troops are still arrogant and abuse
\ntheir power to extort people. Such attitudes and actions should
\nbe stopped, because ... the main task of security personnel is
\nto ... maintain security and protect the people.<\/p>\n
The economic crisis has hit low-ranking servicemen, and many
\nhave chosen to commit crimes such as robbery, extortion and theft
\nbecause they do not know how to make additional income.<\/p>\n
How do you think ABRI should win back people's hearts?<\/p>\n
ABRI should develop better communication with the Acehnese and
\ntake a humane approach which is suitable to the culture of Aceh.<\/p>\n
ABRI should start sending troops to coffee shops where
\nAcehnese people talk about politics and their daily problems.
\nHere, soldiers should talk with the people about everything,
\nincluding discussing the mission of ABRI in the province.<\/p>\n
From what I know about the Acehnese -- as I was stationed here
\nfrom 1979 to 1981 and from 1982 to 1984 -- they are
\ntemperamental, but honest and loyal.<\/p>",
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