Wiranto denies oppression in Aceh<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Wiranto
\ndenied on Tuesday the presence of security troops in Aceh was
\ncausing residents to flee the volatile province.<\/p>\n
Wiranto was refuting a statement by Aceh Governor Syamsuddin
\nMahmud, who said after meeting with President B.J. Habibie here
\non Monday the trauma of a decade-long military operation in Aceh
\nwas so deep that many Acehnese fled the presence of security
\nforces.<\/p>\n
"It's not true. TNI has never oppressed its own people.
\n(Residents) are just afraid of threats from separatist rebel
\ngroups," Wiranto said before attending a National Defense and
\nSecurity Council meeting at Bina Graha presidential office.<\/p>\n
He said TNI personnel in Aceh were grouped in the Riot
\nReinforcement Troops under the National Police's coordination.
\nAccording to Wiranto, the current military operation aimed at
\nrestoring order in the province is well planned and supervised by
\nfield commanders.<\/p>\n
"It's the rebel groups who force people to flee and provoke
\nthem into unpredictable moves," Wiranto said.<\/p>\n
Violence in the province has not abated even with the presence
\nof reinforcement troops in the territory. An elementary school
\nprincipal and teacher in Pidie regency were shot to death by a
\ngroup of unidentified people on Sunday night, hours after
\nmilitary troops killed a suspected rebel in North Aceh regency.<\/p>\n
Security concerns forced the General Elections Commission to
\ncancel the general election in Pidie and North Aceh.<\/p>\n
Wiranto called on people not to heed groundless reports of
\nmilitary abuses in Aceh.<\/p>\n
"Does it make sense for TNI or the police to loot people's
\nbelongings? The troops are out there in an arranged operation to
\nsearch for criminal groups who have in fact stirred unrest,"
\nWiranto said.<\/p>\n
He said rebel groups in Aceh were armed with weapons which had
\nbeen supplied from abroad. Most of the rebels' guns are Russian-
\nmade AK-47s.<\/p>\n
"Several times we arrested firearm smugglers and punished
\nthem," he said.<\/p>\n
In the Aceh capital of Banda Aceh, the Indonesian Council of
\nUlemas (MUI) urged a religious approach to solving the problems
\nin the province.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a MUI chapter meeting on Monday night, MUI deputy
\nchairman H Amidhan lashed out at the repressive and violent
\nmeasures taken by security forces in quelling separatist
\nactivities in Aceh.<\/p>\n
He said the strict security approach left "domestic problems"
\nin the province unresolved.<\/p>\n
"It's a fact that many (Acehnese) have become widows and
\norphans following the military operation. Their suffering has not
\nyet ended," H Amidhan said as quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
He said that besides asking both the government and the House
\nof Representatives to work toward finding a solution in Aceh, the
\nMUI had asked local administrations and ulema to help ease
\nresidents' burdens. (prb\/amd)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/wiranto-denies-oppression-in-aceh-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}