Fear, uncertainty return to Aceh as tension rises<\/p>\n
Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh<\/p>\n
Fear and uncertainty is once again gripping Aceh province as
\ntension rises between the government and the Free Aceh Movement
\n(GAM) over the implementation of the peace accord signed last
\nDecember.<\/p>\n
Residents in Bireun and Pidie regencies told The Jakarta Post
\non Tuesday that they had restricted their movements, especially
\nin the evening, to avoid being hit by crossfire as armed
\nencounters between government troops and the rebels had taken
\nplace every night in the region.<\/p>\n
\"There are armed clashes every night,\" said Muhibbudin, a
\nresident of Bireun.<\/p>\n
He said residents of Bireun town stayed inside their homes
\nfrom late afternoon for security reasons.<\/p>\n
\"We can only pray that a shootout does not take place in front
\nof our homes,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Muhibuddin said Bireun, located some 200 kilometers east of
\nBanda Aceh, was a ghost city until 2001, but came to life after
\nthe signing of the peace agreement in December. However, it was
\nonce again becoming like a ghost town.<\/p>\n
The government and GAM inked a landmark accord last December
\nunder which both parties agreed to end all hostilities in the
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
The rebels, who have been fighting for independence for the
\nresource-rich province since 1976, also accepted the special
\nautonomy arrangement as the sole basis for future negotiations.
\nThe movement also agreed to lay down its arms in stages beginning
\nin February.<\/p>\n
In return, the government agreed to stop all military
\noperations and move troops from offensive to defensive positions.
\nThe government also pledged to retrain the elite Mobile Brigade
\nparamilitary police from a combat force into a regular police
\nforce in charge of peace and order in the troubled province.
\nUnfortunately, both parties have failed to keep their word.<\/p>\n
In Sigli, Pidie regency, some 110 kilometers east of Banda
\nAceh, local residents have also decided to stay home in the
\nevening.<\/p>\n
\"We are afraid the security situation will worsen in this part
\nof Aceh,\" a Pidie resident said.<\/p>\n
Even in the provincial capital of Banda Aceh, local residents
\nalso avoid going out in the evening.<\/p>\n
\"Before we could come home late in the evening, now we are
\nafraid to do that,\" said Taryo, 32, a pedicab driver waiting for
\npassengers outside the Stui bus terminal in Banda Aceh.<\/p>\n
The Stui bus terminal, the biggest in Banda Aceh, has been
\nlargely deserted in the evenings for the past two months.<\/p>\n
Virtually all bus passengers now prefer to travel by day,
\nespecially those going to Medan in neighboring North Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
Abdullah, a bus ticket seller in Stui bus terminal, told the
\nPost on Tuesday that the number of bus passengers going to Medan
\nhad dropped over the past two months.<\/p>\n
\"Soon after the signing of the peace accord, bus tickets for
\nnight trips were always sold out, but now very few are sold,\"
\nAbdullah said without mentioning any figures.<\/p>\n
Nia, a student from Medan, said traveling by night had become
\ndangerous lately as both government troops and the rebels mounted
\ncheckpoints along the road.<\/p>\n
\"Searches by either side are equally frightening; they are not
\nreluctant to shoot if they get upset,\" said Nia, 20, a student
\nfrom Medan studying in Banda Aceh.<\/p>\n
Banda Aceh enjoyed a mini boom in December, with vendors
\nselling fried rice, satay and betel nut until early morning.<\/p>\n
Now, however, the city is largely deserted by 10 p.m.<\/p>\n
\"We cannot sell our stuff anymore,\" complained Yunus, a fried
\nrice vendor in front of the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque, located in
\nthe heart of Banda Aceh.<\/p>\n
\"Why is the peace slipping away so fast. We have a hard time
\nearning a living now,\" said Isah, 56, a betel nut trader in Banda
\nAceh.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/fear-uncertainty-return-to-aceh-as-tension-rises-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}