`I'm afraid my children in Aceh are dead'<\/p>\n
The war in Aceh seems unavoidable now after the government and
\nthe Free Aceh Movement (GAM) failed to reach a peaceful
\nagreement. An estimated 30,000 Indonesian troops have been
\ndeployed to fight about 5,300 separatists. An Acehnese living in
\nJakarta expressed concern to The Jakarta Post about the fate of
\nhis two children who are in Aceh, while others are worrying about
\nthe civilians who will suffer from the military operation.<\/p>\n
Ibrahim, 60, comes from Bireuen, West Aceh. He sells
\nnewspapers in Kota, Central Jakarta. The father of four lives in
\nNorth Jakarta with his wife and two of his children, while his
\nother two children live in Aceh:<\/p>\n
Of course, I don't agree with the military operation.<\/p>\n
I'm very worried as two of my children live there and I have
\nreceived no news from them so far. I'm afraid they could be dead
\neven though they're innocent. I don't know how to contact them
\nand I can't go back there as it is too risky.<\/p>\n
The military's measures are too extreme. Why should the
\nmilitary deploy thousands of troops to fight a lower number of
\nseparatists? It's just a waste of money. The funds could have
\nbeen allocated to help empower the Acehnese so that they can lead
\na decent life.<\/p>\n
I agree that the separatists should be stopped as soon as
\npossible because they have led innocent Acehnese to live in
\nmisery for years.<\/p>\n
For years, the government has made the wrong moves. Many
\nlocal people there are crying out for food because they are
\nimpoverished. But the government has sent troops, weaponry and
\nbullets, instead of aid.<\/p>\n
Consequently, the Acehnese have become a wild lot, apart from
\nthe fact that they are tough and bad-tempered in nature to begin
\nwith.<\/p>\n
I wonder why the government cannot be wiser in its vigilance
\nto this kind of movement. Perhaps separatism is the result of a
\ncorrupt and arrogant government as is the case now.<\/p>\n
Mahmud, 50, is an entrepreneur from Lhokseumawe. He lives in
\nBekasi with his wife and three children:<\/p>\n
I am against the government's military operation. I'm sure
\nthere will be many innocent victims.<\/p>\n
Human shields from both sides will likely be put in place.<\/p>\n
I think most Acehnese will not let anyone hurt their pride.
\nThe locals are commonly tough and militant.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, if they were treated better, they would
\nact far better. So why doesn't the government try to solve the
\nhostilities here in a decent way rather than resorting to
\nviolence?<\/p>\n
Personally, as an Acehnese, I would prefer to be treated
\nfairly by the government rather than to be independent. To be
\nhonest, most people don't want to separate from the country. I
\ndon't think we are ready to govern an independent country.<\/p>\n
The government has failed to really implement the special
\nautonomy status for Aceh as many people are in the dark about the
\nmeaning of being special.<\/p>\n
I don't know who deserves the blame. But one thing is for
\nsure and that is everyone in Aceh was traumatized by the
\nmerciless military operation during the New Order.<\/p>\n
I miss my peaceful hometown. I want to go home someday to see
\nmy relatives without feeling any fear of being suspected as a
\nrebel as is the case now.<\/p>\n
Inong, 36, is a housewife married to a Javanese. She comes
\nfrom Banda Aceh and lives in East Jakarta:<\/p>\n
I object to the military operation.<\/p>\n
I wonder if the government, the separatists and the peace
\nbroker gave up on trying to reach a peace deal.<\/p>\n
I would rather see a peaceful solution being reached because
\nviolence will only make people far more miserable.<\/p>\n
The government will have a difficult time trying to protect
\ninnocent people there during a state of war.<\/p>\n
However, the rebel movement should be stopped because it has
\nin fact threatened innocent lives and the nation in general.<\/p>\n
-- Leo Wahyudi S<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/im-afraid-my-children-in-aceh-are-dead-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }