`No more security approach in Aceh'<\/p>\n
Nani Farida and Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Pressures are mounting for the government to maintain the peace
\ndeal it signed with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), instead of
\nreviving its militaristic approach to solving the problems in the
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
\"Even if the chance to adopt a peaceful settlement (in Aceh)
\nis small, we must go for it,\" House of Representatives legislator
\nSutradara Gintings told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.<\/p>\n
He said the demilitarization process under the Cessation of
\nHostilities Agreement was to end in July and therefore, it was
\ntoo premature to say the peace deal was not working.<\/p>\n
\"There is still four months left to look into the
\nimplementation of the peace deal before declaring it a failure,\"
\nSutradara, of the minority Indonesian Nationhood faction, said.<\/p>\n
Law enforcement, as well as social and economic justice,
\nshould be implemented simultaneously as part of the government
\npolicy in Aceh, rather than pursuing a militaristic approach, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"But if GAM continues to proclaim independence and increase
\narmed resistance against the government, we can say the peace
\ndeal has been broken,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He suggested that the public and media scrutinize the
\nmilitary's conduct to prevent any human rights violations if the
\nuse of force became unavoidable in Aceh.<\/p>\n
The government has repeatedly accused GAM of not complying
\nwith the peace agreement, pointing particularly to the group's
\ncontinued campaign for independence and its refusal to lay down
\narms as stipulated in the agreement.<\/p>\n
Jakarta has filed a formal request for a Joint Council
\nmeeting, a move that could lead to its withdrawal from the
\nagreement.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, several people in Aceh interviewed by the Post
\nsaid they were still traumatized by the militaristic approach
\nadopted by the government in the past to settle the secessionist
\nconflict in the resource-rich province.<\/p>\n
\"I am still traumatized by the past presence of the military
\nin Aceh. Every day, we saw people die,\" said Aisyah, a 40-year-
\nold resident of Cot Krueng village.<\/p>\n
\"But after the peace deal was signed, Aceh has become safe,
\nand we do not have to be worry about going outdoors.\"<\/p>\n
Aisyah, a mother of three, is a vendor at Aceh Market, the
\nlargest traditional market in Aceh. Her husband works as a
\npedicab driver.<\/p>\n
Aisyah said she was happy with the presence of the Joint
\nSecurity Committee (JSC) peace monitor in Aceh, as it had helped
\nto bring peace to the province.<\/p>\n
\"Since the JSC's arrival in Aceh, there has been no fighting
\nand we can return home at night, so I'm happy with their being
\nhere,\" she said.<\/p>\n
She hoped the JSC could resolve the problems and maintain
\npeace in Aceh. \"As an ordinary citizen, I support peace,\" Aisyah
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Teungku Abdullah, who lives in Lhamreung village, Aceh Besar
\nregency, agreed with Aisyah.<\/p>\n
\"Please, don't restart the military operation. It frightens
\nme,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Transportation workers also believed that the peace must be
\nsalvaged.<\/p>\n
\"Trucks and buses have never been set on fire after the JSC
\narrived here,\" a truck driver, Udin, said.<\/p>\n
He said he had once participated in a peaceful rally in front
\nof the JSC office, asking for the elimination of illegal
\ntransportation fees.<\/p>\n
\"I wonder if there is a protest demanding for the dissolution
\nof the JSC. Maybe it doesn't come from the people, because we
\nneed the JSC to maintain peace,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Last Sunday, a mob of around 1,500 people attacked and
\nransacked the JSC office in Langsa, East Aceh, for what they
\ncalled JSC's failure to stop the extortion of Acehnese by GAM.<\/p>\n
Last month, a mob also attacked the JSC Takengon office in
\nSouth Aceh, and hundreds rallied at the JSC office in Tapaktuan
\non Tuesday, demanding that the peace monitors leave the town.<\/p>\n
Donor countries have put pressure on both the government and
\nGAM to stick to the peace agreement, saying that military force
\nwould not bring peace.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/no-more-security-approach-in-aceh-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}