Aceh activists call for end to security operation<\/p>\n
Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh<\/p>\n
Acehnese human rights activists questioned on Monday the
\neffectiveness of Presidential Instruction No. 1\/2002 on the
\nComprehensive Solution to Aceh's Problems to settle the conflict
\nin the province as its six-month deadline nears, while violence
\nremains unabated.<\/p>\n
The instruction, issued in January and aimed at coordinating
\nsocial, economic and security issues to end the separatist
\nmovement in the province, has provided justification for the
\nIndonesian Military (TNI) to do whatever it takes to maintain law
\nand order.<\/p>\n
\"As long as the government keeps the decree alive, violence
\nwill continue in the province,\" Tarmizi, of the Aceh Legal Aid
\nFoundation, said on Monday, while adding there had been hundreds
\nof cases of violence registered by the foundation since January.<\/p>\n
He charged that the TNI had used the article on law
\nenforcement to prioritize the use of force instead of dialog in
\nending the conflict in Aceh.<\/p>\n
\"Law enforcement should have brought many cases of violence to
\ncourt, not by conducting raids that sometimes missed their target
\nand victimized common people,\" Tarmizi added.<\/p>\n
He pointed out that the security apparatus had carried out
\nmany unlawful arrests against members of the separatist Free Aceh
\nMovement (GAM), without giving any clear reasons.<\/p>\n
\"It's like a repetition of former military operations,\" he
\nsaid, while referring to the imposition of the Military Operation
\nZone (DOM) in the past.<\/p>\n
The instruction was first issued by then president Abdurrahman
\nWahid in April 2000, after a humanitarian pause agreed by both
\nthe government and GAM failed to end clashes in the province.<\/p>\n
The instruction focused on economic rehabilitation, law
\nenforcement and all-inclusive talks to end the prolonged
\nconflict.<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri maintained the policy and
\nissued an extension to the instruction in January, but as its
\ndeadline nears, the all-inclusive talks have yet to be realized
\nand the TNI continues to wage war against the separatist
\nmovement.<\/p>\n
Tarmizi underlined that it was impossible for the government
\nto conduct talks, but at the same time stepped up pressure
\nagainst GAM, which is supposed to be the government's dialog
\npartner.<\/p>\n
Another activist Abdulrahman Yacob underlined that the
\ncontinuation of the instruction would backfire, as people would
\nlose their trust in the government.<\/p>\n
\"The people of Aceh are tired of the violence and it has to
\nend,\" he remarked.<\/p>\n
He cited the traumatic 10-year military operation in Aceh,
\nwhich ended in 1999. The ongoing law enforcement operation has
\nbrought back many bad dreams and memories for a large number of
\npeople.<\/p>\n
Tarmizi expressed pessimism that the central government would
\npay attention to the Acehnese concern over the law enforcement
\noperation.<\/p>\n
\"When the government finally set a date for the talks, they
\nwill talk about security and underline the importance of law
\nenforcement to continue the implementation of the instruction,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/aceh-activists-call-for-end-to-security-operation-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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