Source of terror is 'from state, not rebels'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Human rights violations by security officers is
\na source of terror in the restive province of Aceh, rather than
\nseparatist rebels who the government tends to blame for all the
\ntrouble, a rights advocate said on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI)
\nchairman, Hendardi, said the government continually claims that
\nthe enemy of the Acehnese is the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).<\/p>\n
\"Ironically, the Acehnese are more afraid of the military and
\npolice than they are of GAM rebels,\" he said in a one-day talk on
\nterrorism and democracy held by the Poros Indonesia Group.<\/p>\n
Violence committed by security personnel, mainly by the
\nmilitary, he said, in their role \"as agents of Indonesian unity\",
\nhad led to the belief that the idea of \"a united Indonesia was
\nterrifying in itself\".<\/p>\n
The military and police have, however, defended their actions
\nin violating all international norms and conventions on human
\nrights on the grounds of self-defense, he alleged.<\/p>\n
\"This has only resulted in the continuing resistance of the
\nAcehnese and a circle of impunity.\"<\/p>\n
An Aceh provincial legislator of the Indonesia Democratic
\nParty of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) Teungku Bachrum Manyak shared
\nhis opinion on the prolonged conflict in Aceh, claiming it was
\norchestrated by the central government.<\/p>\n
\"Only well-trained people could kill many public figures, such
\nas ulemas, in Aceh. The killers must be professional,\" Bachrum
\nsaid, adding that GAM, however, had been blamed for the murders.<\/p>\n
He did not explain what he meant by professional, but said
\nthat the killers were all well-trained in military techniques and
\nself-defense.<\/p>\n
Bachrum acknowledged that GAM members were also part of the
\nviolence, which should be dealt with by the police, not by the
\nmilitary.<\/p>\n
The unrest in Aceh has been provoked by injustice and the fact
\nthat the government has yet to implement any (positive) political
\ndecision on Aceh, he said.<\/p>\n
\"The government has proposed giving special autonomy to Aceh.
\nPresident Abdurrahman Wahid has also said the concept of the
\nspecial autonomy would be finalized in January 2000. The promise
\nhas yet to be fulfilled.<\/p>\n
\"Just stop disappointing and humiliating us. We have suffered
\na lot,\" Bachrum said, referring to the government's latest plan
\nto impose a state of civil emergency in Aceh.<\/p>\n
According to Hendardi, fulfilling the Acehnese people's
\naspirations to have their rights protected and their basic
\nfreedoms upheld were the key to a peaceful settlement.<\/p>\n
\"The police are in the forefront of the government's will to
\nseek a peaceful way out of the conflict.\"<\/p>\n
Attorney General Marzuki Darusman said in Jakarta on Friday
\nthat his office was still awaiting the result of further
\ninvestigation into alleged human rights abuses in Aceh.<\/p>\n
\"We expect the probe to be completed soon. The sluggish
\nefforts made by the government in handling the rights violations
\nhas become one of the concerns exacerbating the crisis in Aceh,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
\"There is one condition under which the efforts can restore
\nthe Acehnese people's faith in the law,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Marzuki further said that the joint team of investigators was
\ncurrently probing the possibility of the involvement of high-
\nranking military officers in the murder of Muslim preacher Tengku
\nBantaqiah and his students. (02\/07\/bby\/edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/source-of-terror-is-from-state-not-rebels-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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