Another suspicious policy<\/p>\n
Up until late last week, the authorities appeared to be
\nclosed-minded to demands of the restive people of Aceh that the
\nhigh-handed Crack Riot Troops (PPRM) be withdrawn from their
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
The governor of the province earlier said that the troops'
\npresence there, which was intended to crush the armed separatist
\nmovement, had scared the populace so intensely that thousands of
\nthem sought refuge in mosques and other shelters far from the
\nmilitary. Military Commander Gen. Wiranto was quick in denying
\nthe charge, saying the troops never tried to scare anybody.<\/p>\n
But in reality, the number of refugees sharply increased every
\nday until it reached 145,000, a worrying trend in the sparsely
\npopulated province. The tendency soon alarmed many circles in
\nJakarta. Many people, especially students, staged protests
\nagainst the way the military was handling the Aceh crisis.<\/p>\n
Up until last weekend, the government remained unmoved. It was
\nnot only Wiranto who dug in his heels about the matter, President
\nB.J. Habibie, in his state to the nation address on the weekend,
\nalso said PPRM was there to stay.<\/p>\n
However, four days later Wiranto told Acehnese leaders in a
\nmeeting in Banda Aceh, the province's capital, that he would
\nredeploy the troops. In addition, as a positive reaction to what
\nhe claimed was local people's request, he said a regional
\nmilitary command (Kodam) would be established in Aceh.
\nPreviously, the province was under the jurisdiction of the Bukit
\nBarisan (North and Central Sumatra) Military Command, which is
\nheadquartered in Medan.<\/p>\n
Many people have welcomed the troops redeployment, but at the
\nsame time they have voiced concern over the plan to establish a
\nmilitary command. All suspect Wiranto's real intention for Aceh.
\nLocal students say such a policy foretells a frightening future
\nfor Aceh because it means the military will continue to take a
\nbrutal approach in its effort to settle the crisis.<\/p>\n
People in Jakarta have reacted in much the same way. Many say
\nthat the Acehnese have repeatedly stated that what they need is
\nonly justice. They want to see those involved in brutal
\nmassacres, rape and torture of innocent people -- inclusive of
\nwomen and young girls -- during the last nine years of inhumane
\nmilitary operations there brought to trial.<\/p>\n
That the presence of the PPRM has revived the trauma is
\ncompletely understandable. The troops were seen as the return of
\nhungry tigers, except they were in different skins and colors.
\nThe modest people ran away for safety.<\/p>\n
It appears Wiranto has made every effort to avoid shouldering
\nthe responsibility. He now seems to be patronizing the Acehnese,
\nas though they are simple people who can be soothed by a new
\npromise. The maneuver seems to be of the same quality as
\nHabibie's promise when he invited himself to Aceh in March and
\nvowed that he would have a railway system built there.<\/p>\n
At the time, many observers asked when and where did the
\nAcehnese demand an upgraded transportation system? For the
\nAcehnese, things are clear. As long as those involved in the
\nviolation of human rights go unpunished, the Acehnese will see
\nall troops as armed perpetrators who believe they stand above the
\nlaw.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a military expert has also said that from the
\nmilitary's point of view, the establishment of a new Kodam is in
\ncontradiction with the reorganization of the military command.
\nAbout a decade ago the number of Kodam throughout Indonesia was
\nreduced from 17 to nine.<\/p>\n
Now the number should even be further decreased pending a
\nreturn of civilian rule -- in which the police will play an
\nimportant role in security -- since Indonesia faces no foreign
\naggressors.<\/p>\n
A decrease in the number of Kodam would be justifiable,
\nespecially considering how the newly established Kodam in Maluku
\nhas failed to stop the security situation there slipping from bad
\nto worst.<\/p>\n
The present government, which clearly bears the mentality of
\nthe Soeharto regime, has always claimed its policies have been
\nfor the good of the people. But which people was the government
\nacting on behalf of all these years, right through from the five
\nfarcical reelections of president Soeharto until 1998?<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/another-suspicious-policy-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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