Aceh security forces continue to extort drivers<\/p>\n
Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh<\/p>\n
Not only has last month's peace deal failed to bring a complete
\nend to bloodshed in Aceh, it has also failed to stop security
\nforces from extorting truck drivers across the troubled province.<\/p>\n
The extortion is listed as a serious violation of regulations
\noutlined by the Joint Security Committee (JSC) tasked with
\nmonitoring the truce in Aceh.<\/p>\n
Many truck drivers have complained about soldiers and police
\nofficers demanding money and other valuables in East Aceh and
\nWest Aceh.<\/p>\n
The demands were often accompanied by threats of violence.<\/p>\n
Usman, one of the victims, said he had to pay up to Rp 1.2
\nmillion in bribes to security personnel stationed at different
\nposts on the highway during a one-way trip.<\/p>\n
The amount could increase markedly if he was stopped by other
\ntroops or police officers outside those security posts.<\/p>\n
"Although there is a sign in front of every security post,
\nwhich states people should not give anything to military or
\npolice officers, it is not effective at all," Usman told The
\nJakarta Post.<\/p>\n
"The peace agreement has only affected street security, but
\ndoes not stop extortion," he added, referring to the Dec. 9 truce
\nsigned by the government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) to end
\nthe 26-year-old separatist conflict.<\/p>\n
He said soldiers not only asked drivers for money coercibly,
\nbut sometimes looted the contents of their trucks, particularly
\nthose carrying shrimp and crab.<\/p>\n
"Extorters even sometimes treat us rudely by pointing guns,"
\nadded Usman, who has been working as a driver for 15 years.<\/p>\n
He said that in Aceh there were around 60 security posts set
\nup where truck drivers had to pay bribes.<\/p>\n
"There are dozens of other security posts in North Sumatra,
\nwhere officials also extort us," Usman said, adding that each
\npost demanded between Rp 2,000 and Rp 400,000.<\/p>\n
Another victim, Udin, confirmed Usman's account.<\/p>\n
He said he and his colleagues were provided with between Rp
\n1.000,000 and Rp 2.000,000 by their bosses every time they
\ntraveled through the main highways.<\/p>\n
From that amount, Udin said he only received Rp 400,000. "The
\nmoney must be shared with my two driving assistants, after being
\ncut for food allowances."<\/p>\n
Trucks traveling through western parts of Aceh are not immune.<\/p>\n
The worst extortion was faced by trucks carrying logs as they
\ncould spend up to Rp 7.000,000 per one-way trip, a driver who
\nwished to remain anonymous said.<\/p>\n
The extortions have forced truck operators in Aceh to raise
\nthe prices of cargo deliveries, which consequently increased the
\nprices of commodities.<\/p>\n
The owner of a cargo transport company, who declined to be
\nnamed, slammed the security force's methods, which had been
\noccurring for a long time, saying he had to raise delivery
\ncharges to cover operational costs.<\/p>\n
There had been no clear effort to fight the extortions, or
\ntake action against the culprits.<\/p>\n
Since 2001, truck drivers and operators have staged strikes at
\nleast four times but the unlawful practices have continued
\nunchecked.<\/p>\n
JSC officials pledged to move to stop the extortions after
\nthey verified the crimes in the field.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Safzen Noerdin, an Indonesian serving
\nwith the JSC denied involvement of soldiers in the extortions. "I
\nwill talk with the Aceh police chief on this issue," he said.<\/p>",
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