TNI calls on GAM to join forces to help rebuild Aceh<\/p>\n
Indonesian Military (TNI) Chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto
\nshared his assessments on Monday with a group of journalists
\nincluding The Jakarta Post's Riyadi Suparno, about the military's
\ncurrent and future role in the war-torn province of Aceh. This is
\nan excerpt from the conversation:<\/p>\n
Question: What is the overall role of the TNI in the
\nhumanitarian operation in Aceh right now?<\/p>\n
Answer: In an emergency situation like this, we have to be in
\nplace and ready to help. But we also need to understand that a
\nsystem of government must also be running here, and our job is to
\nback up the government so that they can work in mitigating the
\nimpacts of the disaster. That's our job.<\/p>\n
There have been reports of backlogs in the distribution of
\naid. What will the TNI do to solve this problem?<\/p>\n
That's why I'm here now because there have been a lot of
\ncomplaints about it. You must understand that before the disaster
\nthis airport (Banda Aceh) handled only four to six flights a day.
\nBut now, it handles up to 170 flights per day. That's why we are
\nfacing a lot of limitations and problems. We are thinking of
\nopening Sabang to ease the traffic in Banda Aceh and Medan
\nairports.<\/p>\n
However, Sabang will not be able to handle all aircraft as the
\nlength of the airstrip is only 1,800 meters. It can accommodate
\nHercules and Boeing 737-200 planes.<\/p>\n
Some have suggested that this disaster could open a new page
\nin relation to the armed conflict in this province. What do you
\nthink?<\/p>\n
I have already appealed to GAM (Free Aceh Movement) that now
\nis the best time for us to forget all problems that have happened
\nbefore. They are also Acehnese. They say that they struggle on
\nbehalf of the Acehnese. So, why don't we stop all this conflict
\nnow? Why don't they work with us to help the Acehnese?<\/p>\n
That's why my first policy following the disaster was to stop
\noffensive military action against them. The military's first task
\n(in this situation) is to help the people in Aceh by conducting a
\nhumanitarian operation. I need GAM's full cooperation from to not
\ndisrupt our humanitarian operation.<\/p>\n
But GAM has not heeded my appeal, like what happened a week
\nago, when they abducted the head of a medical team and made him a
\nhostage. But after three days, we managed to release him. It's
\nvery bad thing, I think, because this medical team was on the way
\nto help the people.<\/p>\n
As GAM has not heeded my appeal, I have therefore decided to
\nprovide troops to protect all foreigners working here so that
\nthey can work here safely.<\/p>\n
Do you see any danger that GAM might attack foreigners or
\nforeign troops in Aceh?<\/p>\n
It could, especially to attract international intention.
\nThat's why you see that a lot of our soldiers are still carrying
\nweapons. That's one way that we provide protection to foreigners
\nhere. You know that killing a foreigner here will attract
\ninternational attention, and they (GAM) need it.<\/p>\n
Do you have any indication that GAM might be in preparation to
\nmake a specific attack?<\/p>\n
It's difficult to answer because GAM is not like a normal
\norganization. They are conducting guerrilla warfare. And
\nespecially with the limited equipment that they have, some groups
\nhave no contact with other groups. Even if the leader at the
\nhighest level has given an order to stop armed activities, some
\ngroups on the ground might still try to attack foreigners.<\/p>\n
What's the manpower of GAM like now?<\/p>\n
Not so strong, I would say. They lost some of their troops in
\nthis disaster. Before the disaster, they had less than 3,000
\nmembers bearing arms. Now, I guess, there are less than 2,000
\nmembers bearing arms - far fewer than the 10,000 before the
\nmilitary emergency status (was declared).<\/p>\n
There have been offers from U.S. congressmen to help open up
\nthe peace process in Aceh. Do you think that this would be of any
\nbenefit?<\/p>\n
If they can help us make a peace in Aceh, then I will thank
\nthem. But I doubt that because GAM has never said that they want
\nto have a cease fire. They continue to stop convoys carrying
\nhumanitarian support.<\/p>\n
The involvement of the U.S. military in humanitarian
\noperations in Aceh may open the possibility for restoring
\nmilitary ties between the TNI and the U.S. armed forces. How do
\nyou respond to this?<\/p>\n
That's political affairs, and therefore beyond my capacity to
\nrespond. I don't want to enter into political spheres.
\nNevertheless, in my view, ties among militaries need to be built.
\nIf we have a good relations, we can avoid any possibility of open
\nmilitary conflict.<\/p>\n
Some quarters have expressed their concern and even suspicion
\nin relation to the presence of foreign troops in Aceh. What's
\nyour comment?<\/p>\n
We have to understand that we (the TNI) have limited capacity.
\nJust look at the TNI. We have our own limitations. If I did not
\nask for military help from various countries, we could not do
\nthat much. We only have five Hercules aircraft and seven
\nhelicopters. What can we do with these five Hercules and seven
\nhelicopters? Not much. That's why we need foreign help so that we
\ncan conduct our humanitarian operation speedily.<\/p>\n
We have commitment to review their presence here after two
\nweeks. Now, we are evaluating our needs. For example, U.S. are
\nnow flying 17 Black Hawks to Aceh, then after our evaluation, say
\nwe just need only seven, then we will reduce it. And then,
\nSingapore. Now it is deploying six Chinooks and two Super Pumas,
\nfour Hercules. If we consider it can be reduced, then we will
\nreduce it.<\/p>\n
How long do you think you will need foreign military
\nassistance for the humanitarian operation in Aceh?<\/p>\n
I still don't know really because I need to check with our
\nneeds. Currently, there are a lot of remote places that cannot be
\nreached via land roads. Therefore, our priority is to relocate
\nthem to refugee centers that can be reached using land transport.
\nIf not, we will continue to deploy helicopters to reach them and
\ncontinue to rely on foreign help, considering our limited
\ncapacity.<\/p>\n
That's why building these relocation centers that are
\naccessible via land is so very important right now. Before these
\nrelocation centers are ready, we will still need helicopters from
\nforeign countries.<\/p>",
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