'Military operations will kill civilians'<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri has ordered the military to
\nprepare for deployment to Aceh in case the peace deal with the
\nFree Aceh Movement (GAM) cannot be saved. These developments have
\ncaused concern and fear among the Acehnese living in the capital.
\nThose Acehnese The Jakarta Post spoke to about the matter asked
\nthat their identities be protected.<\/p>\n
Saiful, not his real name, 32, is from Pidie, North Aceh. He
\nworks as a parking attendant in Blok M, South Jakarta, and lives
\nin South Jakarta with friends:<\/p>\n
I am against the military operation in Aceh because I am sure
\nit will victimize innocent civilians. The people there have
\nalready been victimized by years of conflict.<\/p>\n
I don't think the government will be able to cope with the
\nsituation if war breaks out.<\/p>\n
I would not have so many problems with the military operation
\nif the military could tell the difference between the separatists
\nand the civilians.<\/p>\n
I think the government has made so many mistakes over the
\nyears. It has exploited the people, completely ignoring the
\nwelfare of the local residents. It's no wonder they have reacted
\nthis way.<\/p>\n
I believe that many Acehnese are now joining GAM because they
\nwant revenge for family members who were murdered or raped by the
\nmilitary.<\/p>\n
I cannot identify my relatives or friends who are members of
\nGAM. Some of my friends have joined the group. But I don't care
\nabout that, it's none of my business.<\/p>\n
That's why I came here. I came to Jakarta to survive after I
\nlost my job in Aceh. Besides, I could not bear the hardships of
\nlife in my village there.<\/p>\n
But someday I want to go home. But when will I be able to
\nenjoy a safe trip?<\/p>\n
Ahmad, not his real name, 44, is an Acehnese businessman who
\nlives in Bekasi with his wife and seven children. He moved to
\nJakarta from Aceh more than 10 years ago:<\/p>\n
I agree with the military operation to fight the separatists,
\nwho have clearly done harm to most Acehnese. All of the investors
\nare leaving the restive province due to the threat (from the
\nseparatists).<\/p>\n
But I fear for the civilians if war breaks out. Before the
\noperation begins civilians should be evacuated, to help make it
\neasier to identify the separatists.<\/p>\n
Also, the objectives of the movement have been harmed by
\nvarious vested interests among the separatists themselves. They
\nfight for money rather than freedom. They only extort investors
\nand the residents.<\/p>\n
I think 99 percent of the fault lies both with the corrupt
\nlocal and central governments. GAM and military officers deserve
\nthe rest of the blame.<\/p>\n
The local government always thinks about lucrative projects,
\nand as soon as it starts to enjoy some benefits it ignores the
\npeople. The poor governance of corrupt officials has caused this
\nsituation.<\/p>\n
I would suggest that the government empower the local people
\nthrough education, so the locals would not be so easily deceived
\nby the misleading separatist movement.<\/p>\n
Meutia, not her real name, 29, works for a company in South
\nJakarta and lives in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, with her family,
\nwho came from Langsa, East Aceh:<\/p>\n
It's hard to say whether I agree or disagree with the military
\noperation in Aceh. I would say I'm somewhere in between the two
\noptions.<\/p>\n
Frankly, I don't have strong emotional ties with Aceh since I
\nwas born here in Jakarta. But I'm concerned about the innocent
\ncivilians who could be casualties in a military operation.<\/p>\n
I take pity on my relatives who still live there. Once my
\nuncle told me how frightening it was when he was extorted by GAM
\nmembers and then by military officers during separate routine
\noperations.<\/p>\n
I'm sure it is not easy to separate ordinary civilians from
\nthose affiliated with the separatist movement.<\/p>\n
Besides, there are so many people with vested interests
\njoining the separatist movement, which worsens the situation.<\/p>\n
But the government has made a lot of mistakes in its treatment
\nof the residents of the province. They live in a resource-rich
\narea but they live in poverty because of the greedy government.<\/p>\n
--Leo Wahyudi S<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/military-operations-will-kill-civilians-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }