Rights body for GAM recognition<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights has
\nproposed that the government recognize and initiate a dialog with
\nthe separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) to reduce tension in the
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
\"The national commission has called for recognition of GAM and
\nwe have reiterated that position with the President,\" commission
\nchairman Marzuki Darusman told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Marzuki was referring to the commission's meeting with
\nPresident B.J. Habibie last week to discuss ongoing violence in
\nthe province.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Military Commander Gen. Wiranto, who has been under
\nmounting criticism for redeploying thousands of troops in Aceh,
\nalso was present during the meeting, Marzuki said.<\/p>\n
\"(The government) has to recognize that GAM is there, it is a
\nfact in the field and rather than fighting against them
\nphysically, why doesn't the government engage in a dialog across
\nthe negotiating table?\" Marzuki said.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
\nFeisal Tanjung ruled out on Wednesday any efforts to open a
\ndialog with the separatist members.<\/p>\n
\"He is contradicting the President directly because... the
\nPresident has decided on a comprehensive political solution to
\nthe Aceh problem,\" Marzuki said, adding that the decision was
\nonly taken \"after a lengthy debate\".<\/p>\n
He said that Habibie's decision would serve to \"totally
\nabandon (the current stance that) military operations are the
\nonly option\" to solve the problems in the province.<\/p>\n
National Police chief Gen. Roesmanhadi announced on Wednesday
\nthat police launched a new offensive to defeat suspected rebels,
\nwhich would involve about 6,000 local police officers and 5,000
\nreinforcement troops from Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"If the military is not able to hold a dialog with the GAM
\nthen they should allow other parties, bodies or agencies or
\nleaders of the Aceh society to conduct a dialog with the GAM,\"
\nMarzuki said.<\/p>\n
Bara Hasibuan of the National Mandate Party (PAN) said on
\nThursday that the presence of an independent foreign party in the
\nprovince to act as a mediator was needed because of the
\noverwhelming distrust of the Acehnese for Jakarta.<\/p>\n
His statement came as activities in Aceh slowly returned to
\nnormal following the mass strike on Wednesday and Thursday
\nprotesting military violence in the province.<\/p>\n
Witnesses in the provincial capital of Banda Aceh and the
\nNorth Aceh capital of Lhokseumawe said that shops reopened and
\npublic transportation was back in operation.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the United States expressed deep concern on
\nThursday about a \"rising tide\" of violence in the province and
\nsaid there were \"serious and credible\" charges of human rights
\nabuses by the military.<\/p>\n
\"The United States is deeply concerned about the rising tide
\nof violence which has claimed over 100 lives in recent months and
\ndramatically increased tension in the Indonesian province of
\nAceh,\" State Department spokesman James Rubin was quoted as
\nsaying by Reuters.<\/p>\n
\"The Indonesian military's campaign to suppress separatist
\nactivity and maintain security in the province has raised serious
\nand credible charges of human rights abuses.\"<\/p>\n
In particular, Rubin cited the killing of 41 civilians in the
\nNorth Aceh village of Krueng Geukueh on May 3 as well as the
\ndeaths of from 40 to 70 Acehnese in the West Aceh village of
\nBeutong Ateuh on July 23.<\/p>\n
While circumstances in the July 23 incident are still being
\ndebated, \"the indisputable point is that tragic, extrajudicial
\nkillings are on the rise\", he was quoted as saying.<\/p>\n
Jakarta should also conduct a thorough, immediate and
\nindependent investigation into the cases of alleged military
\nabuse, including the May 3 and July 23 incidents, he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of
\nViolence (Kontras) said on Friday that at least 82 refugees in
\nMuara Dua district in North Aceh were arrested by security
\npersonnel on Thursday morning.<\/p>\n
National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Togar Sianipar denied the
\nreport, saying that police questioned 40 people in the area
\nfollowing the alleged abduction of Second Lt. Dias, head of Tanah
\nLuas Police subprecinct, earlier on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Togar cited witnesses as saying that Dias was abducted by a
\ngroup of suspected rebels and then taken to Muara Dua.<\/p>\n
He said that police made no arrests.<\/p>\n
Clashes between troops and rebels have been on the rise in the
\nprovince in recent months, with at least 211 people killed. The
\nviolence has prompted nearly 100,000 people to flee their homes
\nand seek shelter in mosques and school buildings.<\/p>\n
The police removed nine Acehnese protesters early Friday from
\nthe grounds of the Netherlands Embassy here after a protest
\nlasting more than 36 hours. (anr\/byg\/emf)<\/p>",
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