Aceh governor asks for military to pull out<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Aceh Governor Syamsuddin Mahmud has written to
\nPresident B.J. Habibie asking for the Armed Forces (ABRI) to
\nwithdraw its troops from the westernmost province and that its
\nstatus as a military operations area be lifted.<\/p>\n
Antara quoted spokesman Natsir Ali as saying in the capital
\nBanda Aceh yesterday that copies of the letter, dated July 29,
\nhad also been sent to the House speaker, coordinating minister
\nfor political affairs and security, minister of home affairs, and
\nminister of defense\/Armed Forces commander.<\/p>\n
The request was made, Syamsuddin reportedly said, because of
\nthe growing demand by Acehnese that the status be revoked as the
\nmilitary presence has led to public fear.<\/p>\n
Now that the security situation is improving and development
\nprograms proceeding fairly well, the presence of troops from
\noutside Aceh is felt to be disturbing \"because of actions which
\nonly cause the public to feel unsafe.\"<\/p>\n
The status of military operations area, formally known as Red
\nNet Operation, had been abused by individuals or units of the
\nmilitary to commit \"excesses\" which were against the soldiers'
\noath, Syamsuddin said.<\/p>\n
\"If this situation continued, the Acehnese people would always
\nbe haunted by fear and insecurity,\" he said. \"This is what has
\nled the people's demand that the status be revoked.\"<\/p>\n
Aceh, Irian Jaya and East Timor are all military operations
\nareas. The status enables the army to facilitate the suppression
\nof separatism in the three provinces.<\/p>\n
Syamsuddin explained in his letter that the status of military
\noperations area was first slapped on Aceh in 1991 following
\noutbreaks of armed rebellions by groups later labeled a Security
\nDisturbances Group (GPK). The areas of rebellion expanded from
\nAceh Utara to Aceh Timur and Pidie regencies.<\/p>\n
In 1991, a group seized 21 weapons and killed 20 ABRI
\npersonnel engaged in a public service operation. Concerned, the
\nthen governor, Ibrahim Hasan, asked then president Soeharto to
\ndeploy extra military forces in the area to restore security and
\nto turn it into a military operations area.<\/p>\n
Syamsuddin did not say how many troops were still deployed in
\nAceh.<\/p>\n
In June, the National Commission on Human Rights promised to
\ninvestigate reports that more than 39,000 Acehnese have died in
\nmilitary operations over the past decade and that 1,000 others
\nare still in military detention in the province. Non-governmental
\norganizations (NGOs) have also reported torture and sadistic
\nmurders.<\/p>\n
A group of legislators are currently in Aceh to investigate
\nreports of disappearances of people over the past ten years and
\nof military abuse of locals suspected of involvement in
\nsecessionist movements.<\/p>\n
Led by Hari Sabarno of the Armed Forces (ABRI) faction, the
\ngroup met with people who claimed to be survivors of military
\nabuse, or whose relatives disappeared in military operations. The
\ngroup, however, failed to meet with 14 political prisoners in
\nLhokseumawe prison, Aceh Utara.<\/p>\n
The prisoners refused to meet with the legislators
\nindividually, Antara said, insisting they speak as a group.<\/p>\n
The Armed Forces had admitted that some people died as the
\nside effects of the military operations. (swe)<\/p>",
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