Civilians demand role in fragile Aceh peace<\/p>\n
Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh, Aceh<\/p>\n
Residents of the troubled Aceh are angry about what they see as
\ntheir exclusion from the peace process, which has yet to bring a
\ncomplete halt to separatist violence.<\/p>\n
Residents say that those in charge of the peace process are
\nsidelining them and their efforts to get involved in implementing
\nthe Dec. 9 peace pact.<\/p>\n
"We are only spectators. We cannot even provide input to the
\nHenry Dunant Centre (HDC) and the Joint Security Committee
\n(JSC)," said Rufriadi, head of the Banda Aceh Legal Aid
\nInstitute.<\/p>\n
He said that he and other community members had written
\nseveral times to the HDC and JSC complaining about violations of
\nthe truce, but had received no response.<\/p>\n
"JSC officials have always told us that they do not have the
\ntime to discuss those letters," Rufriadi told The Jakarta Post on
\nMonday.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, he said, activists from non-governmental
\norganizations occasionally have become the target of abuse after
\ncomplaining about continued violence in Aceh.<\/p>\n
Since the peace accord, Rufriadi said, his office had received
\nreports that at least two activists had been put on a list of
\nwanted people after refusing to answer three police summons for
\nquestioning.<\/p>\n
"The two activists are M. Nazar and Kautsar Muhammad Yus, both
\n(former political prisoners) now being sought by the police for
\norganizing a major rally," Rufriadi said.<\/p>\n
Nazar is a leader of the Aceh Referendum Information Center
\n(SIRA), which has been campaigning for a referendum to decide
\nwhether Aceh will remain a part of Indonesia or become
\nindependent.<\/p>\n
Rufriadi lamented the unequal treatment of civilians in the
\npeace process, saying the rebel Free Aceh Movement (GAM) was
\nallowed to "socialize" the truce while other community members
\nwere branded as provocateurs when they expressed their opinions.<\/p>\n
He also criticized the JSC, which comprises representatives of
\nthe HDC, GAM and the Indonesian Military (TNI), for focusing only
\non incidents that affect their members, not civilians.<\/p>\n
"The peace pact only belongs to the TNI, GAM and the JSC,
\nwhile civilian groups are merely onlookers," Kautsar told the
\nPost.<\/p>\n
In response, the head of Aceh's Iskandar Muda Military
\nCommand, Maj. Gen. M. Djali Yusuf, accused civilian groups like
\nSIRA and the Voice of the Acehnese People (Sura) of attempting to
\ndisrupt the peace deal.<\/p>\n
"We believe they come to subdistricts to twist the facts of
\nthe truce," he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, local politician Sayed Fuad Zakaria urged everyone
\nin Aceh to help guard the peace deal in order to end 26 years of
\nhostility in the resource-rich province, which have killed some
\n10,000 people.<\/p>\n
"I hope this momentum will be maintained so as to create long-
\nlasting peace in Aceh," he was quoted by Antara as saying on
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
The truce has significantly reduced violence in the province,
\nbut sporadic outbreaks of violence involving troops and armed
\nrebels continue to occur, claiming lives on both sides.<\/p>\n
Djali also said the TNI was prepared for the worst, including
\nthe possibility of rebels refusing to lay down their arms by Feb.
\n9.<\/p>\n
He said the military had yet to discuss plans for more
\nreinforcement troops in Aceh. "The number of troops is enough
\nright now, with about 22,600 soldiers."<\/p>\n
He also urged the JSC to be tougher in dealing with truce
\nviolations by members of GAM and TNI. "We will deliver this
\n(request) through Coordinating Minister for Political and
\nSecurity Affairs (Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono)."<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/civilians-demand-role-in-fragile-aceh-peace-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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