Acehnese are Indonesians, too<\/p>\n
My fears have been sadly borne out over these long years.
\nNowhere in Indonesia is more violence sustained on a daily basis
\nthan in Aceh because of military and separatist operations since
\n1989. Far from trying to soothe the Aceh problem, irresponsible
\nsoldiers, whose conduct Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen.
\nWiranto once admitted \"exceeded acceptable norms\", are coming
\nback again.<\/p>\n
ABRI's failure to solve the problem lawfully tragically stoked
\nthe fires in the Lhok Nibong bloody incidents in East Aceh, in
\nwhich seven off-duty military personnel died. Before too long,
\nthe North Aceh Police, who were involved in the Wibawa Operation
\n(which many in Aceh consider an ABRI euphemism for brutal and
\nbarbaric operations in the province), took revenge by killing
\nmany helpless civilians, among them a one-year-old baby and a
\ngrandmother. Hundreds of innocent civilians were left seriously
\ninjured.<\/p>\n
On Jan. 7, 1999, Gen. Wiranto told the House of
\nRepresentatives that he would take cultural and religious
\napproaches in solving the problem of Aceh.<\/p>\n
Do you know what has happened to the helpless Acehnese through
\nGen. Wiranto's new genial approaches? On Jan. 9, ABRI conducted
\nthe Wibawa '99 Operation in Meunasah Blang, Kandang, arrested at
\nleast 38 Acehnese and took them for interrogation to the
\nIndonesian Youth National Committee building which is located
\njust beside Col. Johnny Wahab's office of the Lilawangsa Military
\nCommand. After the interrogation, a group of 50 soldiers cowardly
\nand brutally beat the innocent and helpless Acehnese, causing the
\ndeaths of two people at the site, and later another two died in
\nTjoet Meutia General Hospital, Lhokseumawe. The rest were
\nseverely injured, with some left in critical condition.<\/p>\n
I believe ABRI has the right to do its job, including through
\nthe Wibawa '99 Operation of cultural and religious approaches in
\nAceh. Yet, from the facts, we can see a lot of casualties have
\nfallen among the innocent Acehnese. ABRI's actions, despite its
\nargument to enforce the security and stability for Aceh, are
\nactually something that will leave a legacy which is more
\nvolatile than the condition it seeks to cure.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is a country of law, where everybody has equal
\nrights before the law. As Indonesians, the Acehnese could never
\nunderstand why the ABRI personnel who committed crimes during the
\nmilitary operation in Aceh from 1989 to 1998 could continue
\nenjoying their freedom without having to face trial.<\/p>\n
That is why it is very important for Gen. Wiranto to
\nimmediately arrest and put them on trial. Otherwise, ABRI
\npersonnel will think they can simply go in to Aceh and kill any
\nAcehnese as they wish, without fear of facing consequences under
\nIndonesian law. If Gen. Wiranto cannot do his job, he should
\nresign because it means he is not good to the Acehnese as well as
\nto the country.<\/p>\n
NASRULLAH DAHLAWY<\/p>\n
Lhokseumawe, Aceh<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/acehnese-are-indonesians-too-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }