Civilian rights ignored in Aceh: Activists<\/p>\n
Soeryo Winoto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
What have the Indonesian military (TNI) and Free Aceh Movement
\n(GAM) gained from the prolonged conflict in Aceh? Nothing but
\nmisery. The civilians have, of course, been the ones to suffer
\nmost from the conflicts, but very little seems to have been
\naccomplished in their interest.<\/p>\n
This circumstance has encouraged a non-governmental
\norganization that promotes civil rights, the Civil Alliance for
\nPeace in Aceh, to conduct what it calls a "road show" to promote
\npeace and the rights of civil society in Aceh.<\/p>\n
Risman A. Rachman, coordinator of the Alliance, said that the
\nmain reason for the peace campaign and road show was the violence
\nagainst civilians committed during the prolonged battle.<\/p>\n
"Almost everybody links Aceh with war and violence, so we're
\nasking everybody to see Aceh in a different light: Let's see Aceh
\nwith love," Risman said.<\/p>\n
"Both GAM and the TNI have been so obsessed with destroying
\neach other that they have ignored the right of the Acehnese
\npeople to pursue normal lives," he said in an interview with The
\nJakarta Post last week.<\/p>\n
Another Alliance member, Afridal, who is from the Legal Aid
\nInstitute (LBH) in Aceh, said that the violence must be stopped.
\n"We are all fed up with war, with dead bodies and killings. Just
\nimagine what might cross your mind when, while jogging in the
\nmorning, some people intercept you just because they find dead
\nbodies on the side of the road?"<\/p>\n
If the violence does not end soon, more civilians will be
\nvictimized. "The conflict has been going on for 26 years, and
\nlet's say one civilian is killed each month. How many people have
\nbeen killed during the 26-year conflict in Aceh?" asked Afridal.<\/p>\n
According to the Alliance, the conflict in Aceh has resulted
\nin widespread human rights violations, stagnant laws, the legal
\nsystem and law enforcement, and the exploitation of resources,
\nincluding natural, community and individual resources.<\/p>\n
"The conflict has also destroyed the culture of peace among
\nthe Acehnese civil society, which had been fading gradually.
\nPeople are easily irritated and get angry even over trivial
\nthings. This is very dangerous, as it is as though we are living
\nin an uncivilized society," he said.<\/p>\n
The restrictions placed on community participation in
\npolitical affairs are also an effect of the conflict, Risman
\nadded.<\/p>\n
During its road show, the Alliance plans to meet with
\nstrategic groups, such as Muhammadiyah, the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU),
\nNGOs like the International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development
\n(INFID), the European Commission, foreign diplomats, noted
\nindividuals like Muhammadiyah chairman Achmad Syafii Maarif, and
\nthe media.<\/p>\n
"We have yet to meet the gentlemen from NU, but we've already
\nmet Pak Syafii," said Risman. "GAM is not included in our road
\nshow; we have a special team that will meet GAM members to
\nintroduce our peace concepts."<\/p>\n
The Alliance, which consists of several NGOs, seeks support
\nfrom the strategic groups for the peace building process in Aceh.<\/p>\n
"We urge and challenge the strategic groups to push both the
\ngovernment and GAM to adopt concrete frameworks for peace. We
\nalso want these strategic groups to ensure that the conflict
\nresolution process is carried out in a fair manner that
\nacknowledges the aspirations and demands of the Acehnese civil
\nsociety," he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Afridal said that the Alliance decided to conduct
\nthe road show because, according to their latest plan, GAM and
\nthe government of Indonesia are to sign a peace deal in Geneva on
\nDec. 9.<\/p>\n
According to Afridal and Risman, the Henry Dunant Centre,
\nwhich has been instrumental in bridging the peace deal, is
\napparently lacking in its efforts to push the government and GAM
\nto trust one another.<\/p>\n
"Therefore, we see no guarantees that the peace deal will be
\nsigned on that date. What we are doing now is making public the
\nSeven Principles for a Peace Agreement," said Afridal.<\/p>\n
The seven principles are: 1) Cessation of hostilities,
\nfocusing on decreasing military presence in Aceh (for both GAM
\nand TNI); 2) Prosecution and punishment of violators of human
\nrights, in the spirit of truth and justice for upholding human
\nrights in Aceh; 3) Securing justice and safety for victims of the
\nAceh conflict; 4) Implementation of direct elections for a
\nprovincial leader; 5) Policy and organizational reform of the
\nprovincial administration; 6) Cessation of the exploitation of
\nnatural, community and individual resources of Aceh; 7) Inclusion
\nof active, third-party participation in the political arena of
\nAceh.<\/p>\n
"We want the seven principles to be adopted and included in
\nthe deal to be signed on Dec. 9," said Risman. "The two warring
\ncamps should quickly adopt a strategic and concrete framework by
\nsigning a peace agreement based on the seven principles."<\/p>\n
"Following that, we have what we call Stage B: The
\nimplementation of an Aceh People's Conference to investigate,
\nformulate and implement policies and frameworks like the seven
\nprinciples."<\/p>\n
However, both Risman and Afridal said they could not expect
\ntoo much from the road show, since the two warring groups are
\nstubbornly maintaining their respective stances, while Dec. 9 is
\ndrawing nearer. Their measure of optimism is "about 40 percent",
\nRisman said.<\/p>\n
Risman is being realistic. Despite the planned signing of a
\npeace deal, TNI soldiers are still besieging an area believed to
\nbe one of GAM's strongholds, while GAM commander Teuku Darwis
\nhinted in a recent interview with a private television station
\nthat the signing would not take place unless TNI fulfills GAM's
\nconditions. He did not elaborate.<\/p>\n
For Aceh, it seems, peace is still far away.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/civilian-rights-ignored-in-aceh-activists-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }