Military to intensify night operations<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro and
\nBerni K. Moestafa
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nJakarta\/Lhokseumawe<\/p>\n
After one month attempting to crush independence rebels in Aceh,
\nthe Indonesian Military (TNI) says it is to change strategy so as
\nto intensify night operations.<\/p>\n
TNI chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto told a press conference the
\nnew strategy was aimed at curbing the number of civilian
\ncasualties.<\/p>\n
\"We need some changes to our strategy. Night patrols will
\navoid civilian casualties as we think most people will stay in
\ntheir homes at night and only those involved in suspect
\nactivities will be outside,\" Endriartono said during the media
\nbriefing to assess the military operation after its being in
\neffect for one month.<\/p>\n
\"Of course, we will have to provide more military equipment,
\nsuch as infrared night sights, to enable our soldiers to see in
\nthe dark.\"<\/p>\n
So far, only platoon commanders are equipped with night
\nsights.<\/p>\n
The government has allocated Rp 1.3 billion (US$158.54
\nmillion) to finance the military operation in Aceh.<\/p>\n
According to military figures, a total of 202 Free Aceh
\nMovement (GAM) rebels have been shot dead, and hundreds of others
\nhave been captured or have surrendered during the first month of
\noperation, while the TNI has lost 26 soldiers.<\/p>\n
The National Police revealed that 108 civilians were killed
\nduring the offensive, including a TVRI cameraman, Jamaluddin,
\nwhose body was found on Tuesday after he had been missing since
\nMay 20, one day after the military operation started.<\/p>\n
But Endriartono said this figure needed verifying.<\/p>\n
\"The police's data is always 24 hours behind ours,\"
\nEndriartono claimed.<\/p>\n
Endriartono said the number of separatists killed during the
\noperation would not indicate the success or failure of the
\noffensive.<\/p>\n
\"We don't need to kill all the 5,000 rebels. It's more
\nimportant for us to make them return to the Unitary Republic of
\nIndonesia,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"It wouldn't be a victory for us either if we managed to kill
\n(GAM armed wing commander) Muzakir Manaf or (GAM spokesman)
\nSofyan Dawood as our concern in this operation is stopping the
\nsecessionist movement in Aceh.\"<\/p>\n
Jakarta decided last month to impose martial law in Aceh after
\nGAM refused to meet Indonesia's terms for disarmament and
\nacceptance of Indonesian sovereignty in Aceh.<\/p>\n
GAM has been fighting for independence since 1976. More than
\n12,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed since then.<\/p>\n
The martial law operation mandates an integrated approach
\nconsisting of a military offensive, humanitarian mission, the
\nstrengthening of local government, and law enforcement. It is
\nslated to last six months, but may be extended.<\/p>\n
The TNI has allocated the first two months of the operation to
\nobtaining territorial control, and the remaining four months to
\nseparating civilians from GAM rebels.<\/p>\n
Although Endriartono did not clearly spell out if the
\noperation would end quicker than expected, he said the mission
\nwould be accomplished if GAM leaders and members surrendered.<\/p>\n
Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu shared his opinion,
\nsaying the security operation in Aceh would be completed once
\ncivilians felt safe to go anywhere, rather than when all the
\nrebels had been killed.<\/p>\n
During Thursday's press conference, Endriartono also admitted
\npoor discipline among soldiers as evidenced by the death of seven
\nin a clash in Matang Kumbang village and military mistreatment of
\ncivilians in Lawang village, both in Bireuen.<\/p>\n
\"Of course, we can't blame the soldiers alone for the
\nviolations,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Some soldiers had failed to abide by the military code, which
\ndemands that they protect civilians, Endriartono said.<\/p>\n
Seven soldiers have been court-martialed for the incident in
\nLawang, with six of them being sentenced to between four-months
\nand four-months-and-20-days imprisonment. The TNI has also taken
\nthe battalion involved in the abuses out of the field.<\/p>\n
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