TNI admits to wrongdoings in Aceh<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro and Nani Farida, Jakarta\/Banda Aceh<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Military (TNI) acknowledged on Wednesday that
\ntroops in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam were guilty of hundreds of
\nviolations, including rape and selling ammunition to rebels in
\nthe province.<\/p>\n
TNI chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto said 511 violations had
\nbeen recorded since a military operation was launched in Aceh in
\nmid-May 2003.<\/p>\n
\"When we launched the campaign, critics were already saying
\nthe operation was going to be a dirty war. I do not hesitate to
\nadmit them (violations),\" Endriartono said at a press conference
\non Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The conference was called to brief the press on the ongoing
\nmilitary campaign in Aceh, launched after Jakarta declared war
\nagainst the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) last May.<\/p>\n
\"We have brought 429 violations involving soldiers to the
\nmilitary court, while 82 others are being processed,\" Endriartono
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He also said that 57 soldiers had been sentenced to up to
\nthree years in prison, while three others had been discharged
\nfrom the military.<\/p>\n
Endriartono's admission comes just days after the National
\nCommission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) submitted a report on
\nalleged gross human rights violations committed by both the TNI
\nand GAM since May 19, when President Megawati Soekarnoputri
\ndeclared a state of emergency in Aceh, where rebels have been
\nfighting for independence since 1976.<\/p>\n
Endriartono said some 2,000 suspected GAM members had been
\nkilled since May 19, another 2,100 arrested, 1,270 others had
\nsurrendered and 1,045 weapons of various types had been seized
\nfrom rebels.<\/p>\n
Early in the operation, the military estimated the number of
\nGAM rebels at 5,251 -- about 100 fewer than the number said to
\nhave been killed, captured or surrendered -- equipped with about
\n2,000 weapons.<\/p>\n
Endriartono also said that 130 soldiers had been killed and
\n289 wounded since the offensive began. The operation has so far
\ncost the state Rp 1.9 trillion (US$220 million).<\/p>\n
The general said he did not object to plans by Komnas HAM to
\nlaunch a thorough investigation into alleged rights abuses in
\nAceh since 2003.<\/p>\n
\"We welcome Komnas HAM to investigate rights abuses allegedly
\ncommitted by my troops while carrying out their duties (in Aceh),
\nbut the investigation should not have a political motive. It
\nshould also record violations committed by rebels,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Komnas HAM has divided the alleged abuses into five categories
\n-- the displacement of persons, arbitrary arrests, forced
\ndisappearances, rape and extrajudicial killings.<\/p>\n
In Banda Aceh, the Aceh martial law administration said on
\nWednesday that 139 members of the armed forces -- 133 from the
\nArmy, three from the Navy and three from the Air Force -- had
\nbeen found guilty of violations since the military operation
\nbegan.<\/p>\n
\"Their violations varied from disciplinary offenses, rape, the
\nunauthorized firing of weapons, theft and bribery to selling
\nammunition to GAM rebels,\" Aceh martial law administration
\nspokesman Col. Ditya Soedarsono said.<\/p>\n
He said some soldiers had sold ammunition for Rp 35,000 per
\nbullet.<\/p>\n
Ditya also said 43 soldiers had deserted their units \"but none
\nof them had joined the rebels\".<\/p>\n
Endriartono also welcomed reported plans by GAM to release
\nhostages, saying the military would guarantee the safety of those
\ninvolved in the release of the captives.<\/p>\n
GAM said on Tuesday it would free a television cameraman who
\nhas been held for almost a year and 100 other \"prisoners\" next
\nweek.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tni-admits-to-wrongdoings-in-aceh-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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