12 soldiers to stand trial for torturing civilians in Aceh
12 soldiers to stand trial for torturing civilians in Aceh
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The martial law administration in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam will
immediately court-martial 12 soldiers on charges of torturing
dozens of villagers in a move that seems calculated to show the
international community the military's strong commitment to
protecting Acehnese people's human rights.
Apparently angered by the mistreatment of the civilians,
Indonesia Military chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto regretted the
incident, which could have the potential to damage the ongoing
military operation, saying that despite the recent
"reconciliation" between the soldiers, the victims and their
relatives, the 12 military personnel allegedly involved in the
incident would nevertheless be brought to justice.
"All the soldiers sent to flush out the rebels in the province
have been ordered not to mistreat civilians but rather to win
their hearts and minds so that the people and the military can
together help each other to restore order and security," he said
during a press conference at military headquarters in Cilangkap,
East Jakarta, on Friday.
He added that the suspects would face a court-martial
established by the military administration in the near future.
The incident occurred on Aug. 31 when a group of 12 soldiers
from the West Java-based Siliwangi Battalion were searching for
an alleged rebel identified as Syaiful alias Siopon Cina in
Geulumpang Sulu Barat village, North Aceh.
According to eyewitnesses, a number of villagers were beaten
and tortured when they failed to provide information on the
wanted man, who is said to have escaped on a motorcycle when the
questioning of the villagers by the soldiers was under way.
Spokesman for the military operation Lt. Col. Ahmad Yani
Basuki said that following the incident, the 12 soldiers had held
a "reconciliation ceremony" with the villagers.
He declined to identify the 12 or to say what charges would
being laid against them.
In June, six soldiers were sentenced to between four months
and five months imprisonment for the beating of civilians in
Lawang village in Bireuen regency. The civilians were beaten up
after they failed to hand over a rebel whom the soldiers claimed
was hiding in the village. In the same month, three other
soldiers were sentenced to three years and six months each for
raping four Acehnese women when raiding a reported rebel
stronghold in North Aceh. They were also dishonorably discharged
from the military.
The military has been roundly criticized by NGOs and the
National Commission on Human Rights for human rights abuses
during the military operation.
Entering the fifth month of the operation, at least
304 civilians have been killed. Both sides have denied
responsibility for the civilian deaths.
The New York-based International Human Rights Watch accused
Indonesia of violating human rights in quelling the separatist
movement, with one of the reasons being that Indonesia has
refused to allow international organizations to directly
distribute humanitarian aid in the province.