Humanitarian pause to Acehnese<\/p>\n
It seems that the Humanitarian Pause agreed upon by the
\ngovernment of the Republic of Indonesia and the Free Aceh
\nMovement (GAM) has not been properly honored as activists are
\nstill missing, the burning of homes and markets and the killings
\nare still going on and the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National
\nPolice (Polri) are continuing their fierce and merciless sweeps,
\ncreating a larger number of refugees. This is a horrible
\nsituation gripping the locals.<\/p>\n
Some of these incidents occurred when I was in Aceh recently
\nand I was made aware of them when I talked to a GAM member, who
\nspoke on the condition of anonymity.<\/p>\n
Members of TNI and the Police Mobile Brigade have allegedly
\nbeen involved in clashes. The burning of a police station in
\nTakengon recently, followed by the murder of a TNI member in
\nAngkop, did not involve GAM, said GAM commander Tgk. Ilham Ilyas
\nLeubee, through the chief of the GAM information bureau for the
\nLinge area. These clashes have claimed victims from among the
\nlocals, especially because TNI conducted round-the-village
\npatrols afterwards.<\/p>\n
It is common knowledge in Aceh that prior to the murder of a
\nTNI member in Angkop, there was a quarrel between members of TNI
\nand the Mobile Brigade. This quarrel stemmed from a
\nmisunderstanding as a TNI member thought that a Mobile Brigade
\nmember had insulted him. It is also common knowledge that members
\nof both TNI and the Mobile Brigade back illegal gambling in
\nLampahan, Central Aceh. The TNI member reportedly aimed his
\npistol at the Mobile Brigade member saying, \"Come on, try this,
\npig. This is my turf, you know. Dismissed!\"<\/p>\n
The GAM commander in chief has also called on TNI and the
\nMobile Brigade to stop applying double standards and cruelty in
\nthe context of honoring the Humanitarian Pause. However, he also
\nsaid this should not be construed as delaying the secession of
\nAceh from Indonesia. He appealed to Indonesia's military and
\npolice forces not to make Aceh a place where they fight each
\nother.<\/p>\n
At present, the Acehnese live in great misery and terror. They
\nhave been subjected to cruelty, robbery, rape and murder,
\nallegedly committed by Indonesian troops since their arrival here
\nin 1976.<\/p>\n
Now, as a Muslim, I wish to appeal to President Abdurrahman
\nWahid to take action to stop the deployment of troops in Aceh.<\/p>\n
Mr. President, you are the leader of the Indonesian people and
\na true Muslim. Please stop sending troops to Aceh. Let the
\nAcehnese enjoy a peaceful life without any disturbances from
\nsecurity forces. They live in great misery and dejection. They
\nneed help. This is no longer a matter of separatism or
\ndisintegration. This is the persecution of fellow Muslims. Do not
\nlet Allah punish all of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Clearly, the Humanitarian Pause is not even close to bringing
\npeace to the Acehnese as many violations are still being
\ncommitted by security forces. To finish, let me quote what the
\nGAM commander in chief has also said: \"What is the result of the
\nsecurity forces' effort to probe into the disappearance of an
\nactivist? Where is the truth in their statement that they are not
\ninvolved in this matter?\"<\/p>\n
RESI S. YUSUF<\/p>\n
Bandung<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/humanitarian-pause-to-acehnese-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }