Aceh military command reinstated<\/p>\n
Ibnu Mat Noor and Annastashya Emmanuelle, The Jakarta Post,
\nBanda Aceh\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Disregarding vehement opposition from human rights activists and
\nAcehnese people, the military officially restored on Tuesday the
\nIskandar Muda Military Command in Aceh, appointing current head
\nof military operations Brig. Gen. M. Djali Yusuf as its first
\ncommander.<\/p>\n
Rights groups have long warned that the revived command would
\nonly exacerbate violence in Aceh where more than 1,700 people
\nwere killed last year alone and at least 200 people have already
\ndied in 2002.<\/p>\n
The critics have also said that the move contradicted the
\nmilitary's plans to disband area-specific military commands
\nacross the archipelago over the next decade.<\/p>\n
The revival of the Aceh Military Command (Kodam) also took
\nplace just two days after the government and separatist leaders
\nfrom the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) ended two days of peace talks
\nin Geneva, Switzerland, in which both sides agreed to reduce
\nviolence in the restive province.<\/p>\n
\"I hope the revival of the Iskandar Muda Military Command will
\nhelp bring Acehnese people out of the current prolonged state of
\ninsecurity,\" Army Chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto said after
\nofficially reinstating the Aceh Kodam in Banda Aceh on Monday.<\/p>\n
Also present at the ceremony, which was held at the former
\nheadquarters of the disbanded military command, included Army's
\nStrategic Reserves (Kostrad) Commander Lt. Gen. Ryamizard
\nRyacudu, Army Special Forces (Kopassus) Commander Maj. Gen.
\nAmirul Isnaini, Bukit Barisan Military Commander Maj. Gen. I.G.
\nPurnawa and head of the Aceh Legislative Council (DPRD) Tengku
\nMuhammad Yus.<\/p>\n
During the ceremony, Endriartono also conferred special
\npromotion badges upon 20 soldiers who participated in a military
\noperation that resulted in the death of GAM military commander
\nAbdullah Syafi'ie on Jan. 22.<\/p>\n
Endriartono said armed conflicts in the country's westernmost
\nprovince had ruined the futures of Acehnese children as many of
\nthem had lost their parents and were forced to lead miserable
\nlives.<\/p>\n
\"This unfortunate situation should be halted as soon as
\npossible,\" he said, adding that the revival of the Aceh Kodam was
\npart of efforts to rectify injustices and wrongdoings committed
\nby previous regimes.<\/p>\n
Endriartono urged troops stationed there to exercise restraint
\nand end violence. \"Change your weapons to shovels, tractors and
\nwood to bring about prosperity to Acehnese people,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Human rights activists and Acehnese people have expressed
\nopposition to the military command's revival for fear of more
\nhuman rights violations in the restive province, where GAM has
\nbeen fighting for independence since 1976.<\/p>\n
The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence
\n(Kontras) founder Munir said on Tuesday that the reinstatement of
\nthe military command in Aceh would trigger an escalation of
\nviolence as additional troops will be deployed to the area.<\/p>\n
\"New battalions will be formed as a consequence of the re-
\nestablishment of Kodam. There could be more victims than when the
\nprovince was put under the military operation area (from 1989 to
\n1998),\" Munir told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
According to newly installed Aceh Military Commander Brig.
\nGen. Muhammad Djali Yusuf, there are currently 16,700 troops in
\nAceh.<\/p>\n
Secretary General of the National Commission for Human Rights
\n(Komnas HAM) Asmara Nababan warned on Tuesday that the revival of
\nthe Aceh Kodam would backfire as it could bolster resentment
\namong Acehnese and fuel their desire to for independence from
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
\"Apparently we haven't learned from past mistakes such as
\nduring the military operations from 1989 - 1998 and East Timor,
\nbecause we persist with this kind of militaristic approach,\"
\nAsmara said.<\/p>\n
The military command would also trigger a cycle of violence
\nbetween Indonesian troops and GAM while the number of casualties
\nwould continue to rise in the area, he said.<\/p>\n
\"A military command might be able to suppress GAM, but it will
\nnot help win the hearts and minds of the Acehnese,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Most residents in Aceh refused to comment on Tuesday on the
\nrevival of Kodam Aceh.<\/p>\n
\"We don't care if the military command is revived or not. What
\nis important for us is to earn a living,\" said a pedicab driver
\nin Banda Aceh on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Defense Minister Matori Abdul Djalil, however, dismissed
\nopposition to the revival of Aceh Kodam, and said that the House
\nof Representatives and especially House Commission I, which was
\nin charge of foreign policy and defense issues, had already given
\nits approval.<\/p>\n
\"Legislators have shown their support, they are the
\nrepresentatives of the people,\" he said on the sidelines of a
\nHouse hearing on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly Amien Rais
\nnoted that the revival of Aceh Kodam was a national policy
\nresulting from a series of consultation meetings.<\/p>\n
\"All that we can do now is that we must make the best out of
\nit,\" Amien said.<\/p>\n
The Iskandar Muda military command was first formed in 1956
\nbut it was disbanded in 1985 for efficiency reasons. After 1985,
\nmilitary operations in the restive province had been coordinated
\nfrom the Bukit Barisan Military Command in Medan, North Sumatra
\nprovince.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/aceh-military-command-reinstated-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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