Acehnese beg for peace, receive loyalty lessons<\/p>\n
YS Tong, Journalist, Banda Aceh, Aceh<\/p>\n
Thousands of unarmed Acehnese civilians from Banda Aceh began
\nto gather in a field as early as 7 a.m. on Tuesday for what has
\nnow become a routine activity since the military operation
\nstarted in late May.<\/p>\n
Dozens of Indonesian soldiers (TNI) in uniform were strolling
\ncasually around the crowd.<\/p>\n
Few of the soldiers had guns, and they did not seem in any way
\nalarmed or intimidated by the overwhelming presence of the
\npeople.<\/p>\n
Indeed, they had every reason not to be intimidated. This was,
\nafter all, not exactly a battlefield in a conventional sense.<\/p>\n
It was just Blang Padang, the recreation park in the heart of
\nthe capital of Aceh province, with a different look and feel on
\nTuesday morning.<\/p>\n
The people came here neither to play nor to jog. They stood
\nbefore a flagpole which was erected in the center of the field to
\nbe on the receiving end of the government's plan to \"win the
\nhearts and minds of the people.\"<\/p>\n
On the other side of the flagpole was a stage and tents which
\nsheltered VIPs sitting comfortably in their chairs out of the
\nsun.<\/p>\n
Huge banners encircled the field, displaying messages such as
\nGAM kembalilah, rakyat sudah terlalu letih (Return to the right
\npath, GAM, people are tired of you) and Hai separatis GAM, jangan
\nbakar sekolahku (Hey, GAM separatists, don't burn my
\nschool).<\/p>\n
It was clear that the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), the separatist
\nmovement which has been fighting for independence for Aceh for 27
\nyears now, was not welcomed at this apel -- a ceremony organized
\nby the district administration for the Acehnese to pledge their
\nallegiance and loyalty to the Republic of Indonesia in the form
\nof oaths.<\/p>\n
This apel involved youths from Banda Aceh, comprising mainly
\nstudents from secondary schools and representatives from nearby
\nvillages.<\/p>\n
It was the latest in a series of apel that have been held over
\nthe past few weeks.<\/p>\n
At 8 a.m. sharp, the master of ceremonies called for a
\nrehearsal while waiting for the arrival of Army Chief of Staff
\nGen. Ryamizard Ryacudu and Aceh governor Abdullah Puteh.<\/p>\n
The crowd was briefed about the two oaths that they were about
\nto take -- the state ideology of Pancasila and a five-point Ikrar
\nPemuda Provinsi Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, or the oath of the
\nyouth of the Nangroe Aceh Darussalam province.<\/p>\n
This was followed by a rendition of the national anthem, which
\nwas met with less than a lukewarm response from the people. Their
\nvoices were almost inaudible as the speakers blasted the melody
\naway.<\/p>\n
After singing, several people in the back began to sit or
\nsquat in small groups, puffing cigarettes and chatting while
\nappearing totally oblivious to the ongoing rehearsal.<\/p>\n
This behavior did not go unnoticed by the organizers. One
\nmilitary officer grabbed the microphone and said in a stern
\nvoice, \"No one is to sit or squat! Get back in line or get out of
\nhere!<\/p>\n
\"We do not want any of you to spoil this. And we do not want
\nto hear noise from the crowd,\" he chastised.<\/p>\n
The people obeyed his instruction but not for very long. The
\nsitting, chatting, laughing and smoking soon resumed as they
\nwaited for the \"real thing\" to start -- and end.<\/p>\n
After about an hour, Gen. Riyamizard and Governor Puteh
\narrived with their entourage in a bus escorted by the military
\npolice.<\/p>\n
The event immediately started with a recital of the Koran.
\nThen it was the two oaths as promised. The crowd was led through
\nthe reading of the oaths.<\/p>\n
\"We the youths of Aceh province swear that we will always love
\nand remain loyal to the integrity of the Republic of Indonesia...
\nWe will not support or be involved in the activities of GAM
\nrebels...<\/p>\n
\"We will play an active part in ensuring the success of
\ndevelopment in Aceh as outlined by the government of Indonesia...
\nWe support fully the integrated operation and the martial law
\nadministration in Aceh in order to crush GAM...,\" they said in a
\nmonotonous, if not mechanical, tone.<\/p>\n
Following this, Puteh and Ryamizard gave their speeches. The
\nmilitary operation was not for the benefit of government
\nofficials, military or police but to ensure lasting peace and
\nstability for the Acehnese, they stressed.<\/p>\n
Puteh also took a swipe at GAM and William Nessen, the
\nAmerican journalist who has been traveling with GAM for a month
\nnow and has demanded a guarantee of non-interrogation by the
\nauthorities as a condition for him to leave the separatist
\nmovement.<\/p>\n
\"GAM and foreign journalists are here to stir up problems in
\nAceh. Take for example, William Nessen who is not doing anything
\ngood for us. (But) they will have to face the military and police
\nsoon,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Halfway through Ryamizard's speech, it began to drizzle.<\/p>\n
The apel was quickly concluded with the release of pigeons,
\nsignifying new hope for peace in Aceh. Helium-filled balloons,
\nwith \"Happy birthday\" written all over them, were also let off
\ninto the sky.<\/p>\n
This finally excited the crowd, especially when a bundle of
\nballoons descended upon a group of students among the crowd
\nbecause of the weight of a banner it carried.<\/p>\n
Several students from state Senior High School III Banda Aceh
\nsaid they felt \"the flame of nationalism\" burning within them
\nafter the event, never mind that they could not remember the
\ncontent of the oaths that they took less than half an hour
\nearlier.<\/p>\n
These meetings could be risky for some Acehnese who take part.
\nLast week, two civil servants were shot dead by \"unknown gunmen\"
\nhours before they were supposed to attend an apel for local
\ngovernment staff.<\/p>\n
It is even more difficult for others, who still have to go
\nhome and cope with the pressure of day-to-day living and the
\ndilemma of taking sides with either TNI or GAM.<\/p>\n
One small businessman said, \"We are bingung (confused) as to
\nwhom we should believe, more confused than ever.\"<\/p>\n
If his words are taken as an overall reflection of the popular
\nsentiment, the apel was nothing more than an hour of fanfare and
\namusement.<\/p>\n
It is still far from impressive for the greater part of the
\nAcehnese population.<\/p>\n
YS Tong is a visiting journalist from Bangkok-based Southeast
\nAsian Press Alliance (SEAPA). He is currently in Indonesia for
\none month.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/acehnese-beg-for-peace-receive-loyalty-lessons-1447893297",
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