Javanese 'milita' village marks pro-Indonesia front line in Aceh<\/p>\n
Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post, Central Aceh<\/p>\n
Musirah, 50, remembered the day her village fought against the
\nFree Aceh Movement (GAM), when hundreds of armed insurgents
\nbesieged the village on June 6, 2001.<\/p>\n
The guerrillas had previously attacked and burned down other
\nvillages in the districts of Batu, Timang Gajah, Bandar and Syiah
\nUtama.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of Central Aceh residents died in the attacks, while
\nthousands more were forced to seek refuge at the regental
\ncouncil's offices and those of the Takengon regent, 30 kilometers
\nfrom Bukit district.<\/p>\n
\"We, all the villagers of Pondok Kresek, resolved to defend
\nour village until our very last drops of blood,\" said Musirah.<\/p>\n
They were triumphant. Armed with homemade rifles, machetes,
\nspears and swords, they repulsed the rebels. The struggle lasted
\nfor 90 minutes.<\/p>\n
The incident only claimed five casualties, among them a two-
\nyear-old child named Irma, who died in her mother's arms.<\/p>\n
Residents have built a monument at the entrance to Pondok
\nKresek village, its name now changed to Setia Jadi village, in
\nmemory of the fallen victims and to exhort residents to
\nconstantly protect their village.<\/p>\n
The village, located in Batu district, is unique in Central
\nAceh regency as 99 percent of its inhabitants are of the Javanese
\norigin.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Military (TNI), whose soldiers are mostly
\nJavanese, will quickly come to the aid of the village if it comes
\nunder threat.<\/p>\n
The villagers earn their living as vegetable and coffee
\ngrowers.<\/p>\n
\"GAM rebels seldom show up here as we would repulse them if
\nthey did,\" said Musirah.<\/p>\n
The conflict has not greatly affected the welfare of the
\nvillagers. If attacked, residents join together in arms to
\nprotect their village. It is the first village in Batu district
\nto have recovered economically.<\/p>\n
The fearsome reputation of the villagers in repulsing GAM
\nthreats has made outsiders think twice before entering the
\nvillage, especially indigenous Acehnese.<\/p>\n
It is widely rumored that should an Acehnese wander into
\nPondok Kresek by mistake, he would be quickly put to death.<\/p>\n
\"It's been four years now since fishmongers from Bireun have
\nhad the courage to come to our village,\" said Musirah.<\/p>\n
He claimed the villagers had no problem with the Acehnese.
\n\"The problem is with GAM, and not all Acehnese are rebels,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The village is staunchly pro-Indonesia and has strong military
\nties. In other words, it is a militia village, with most of the
\nvillagers armed with homemade firearms.<\/p>\n
\"We have guns, but we made them ourselves. They were not provided by
\nthe Indonesian Military (TNI). We have never been trained by them
\neither,\" asserted Turmansyah, 44, a resident of the village.<\/p>\n
According to Turmansyah, villagers have been producing
\nammunition and homemade firearms out of bicycle parts.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/javanese-milita-village-marks-pro-indonesia-front-line-in-aceh-1447893297",
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