ABRI 'cannot follow up Aceh rights abuses'

By Ridwan Max Sijabat

JAKARTA (JP): The Acehnese, still hurting from the violence inflicted during the years of antiseparatist military operations, are now demanding justice.

Many Acehnese leaders have said that Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen. Wiranto's apologies last August mean nothing unless past rights abuse cases are resolved.

The following is an excerpt from an interview with Chief of Army Strategic Reserves Command Lt. Gen. Djamari Chaniago during a Hercules C-130 flight from Lhokseumawe in Aceh to Jakarta on Friday.

Question: What do you think about the demands for justice that the Acehnese are making?

Answer: The military operation in Aceh was part of the 32-year New Order government's policy of maintaining national stability, which was considered a prerequisite for economic development programs at the time. Former president Soeharto declared Aceh, East Timor and Irian Jaya as military operation zones (DOM) to put down separatist groups in the three provinces.

The military operation in Aceh, which began in 1978, was aimed at quashing Free Aceh separatist rebels and winning over the local people's hearts to support a united republic, the government and the development program.

During the military operations in the jungles and remote areas of Aceh, troops were not always able to discern rebels from the ordinary people because they were all living together in villages. And this caused many victims to fall.

How many people were killed during the military operations?

During the operations, troops and rebels were involved in shootings. There was an exchange of fire, causing many deaths on both sides.

It is wrong for the Aceh people to demand that ABRI be solely responsible for the deaths. Many troops were also killed in the operations.

Of course, ABRI has admitted to have committed murders, but not all of the deaths should be blamed on the military. They should be blamed on the separatist groups too.

Last year, the National Commission of Human Rights discovered human remains in mass graves. It said more than 781 people were killed during the military operations.

ABRI is of the opinion that both ABRI and the (separatist) guerrillas committed murders. Besides, the Dutch (colonial) troops also killed many people when they were trying to occupy the province in the early years of this century. The people cannot therefore ask ABRI to be held responsible for all these deaths.

Many have testified about the military using brutal tactics in its raids.

Troops were forced to commit 'sadism' because they, too, were treated sadistically. Troops were trained in the battlefield, where they had to take revenge if fellow soldiers were beheaded. So it will be impossible for the government and the military to follow up the findings of the rights bodies.

It would be better for the nation to leave the past behind it, and to draw a line separating the present from the past, so that it can work hard to defuse the current crisis and to develop the country. An investigation into the rights violations will bring nothing but prolonged polemics.

Do you believe the majority of the people of Aceh want to build an independent state?

Just like in Irian Jaya and East Timor, the separatist groups are a minority and their campaign for the majority's sympathy will not be successful.

The separatist group led by Ahmad Kandang in North Aceh has around 100 armed members. Its activities are financed by Hasan Tiro (a separatist leader said to be living in Sweden), and a small Aceh community living in Malaysia. A number of their members have been trained in Libya. Their present activities are based on terrorism and intimidation.

I believe, however, they will not be able to persuade or force the Acehnese to support their movement because they would face resistance from the majority who still support a united Indonesia.

This is also true considering the history of Aceh, which has given considerable moral and material contributions to the country since before independence (in 1945) until now. This is the special pride of the Acehnese.

Many Aceh people are still angry about ABRI's brutality.

ABRI's poor performance and its poor image has a lot to do with the government's policies in the province in the past.

In this era of reform, ABRI will continue to revamp its organization and reposition itself in term of its dual function in defense and politics.

Please bear in mind that ABRI has lifted the military operation zone status, and has begun to employ a more humane approach in handling problems in the predominantly Muslim province. It has pulled out a majority of combat soldiers from the province. This is expected to indirectly help regain the people's confidence in the government and the military.

Some Acehnese religious leaders, students and non-governmental organizations have said that troops continue to use the same approach to security, and still oppress the people.

It is not ABRI's policy.

ABRI has also encouraged people to report to ABRI leaders any servicemen committing crimes or treating them inhumanely. It must be acknowledged that many troops are still arrogant and abuse their power to extort people. Such attitudes and actions should be stopped, because ... the main task of security personnel is to ... maintain security and protect the people.

The economic crisis has hit low-ranking servicemen, and many have chosen to commit crimes such as robbery, extortion and theft because they do not know how to make additional income.

How do you think ABRI should win back people's hearts?

ABRI should develop better communication with the Acehnese and take a humane approach which is suitable to the culture of Aceh.

ABRI should start sending troops to coffee shops where Acehnese people talk about politics and their daily problems. Here, soldiers should talk with the people about everything, including discussing the mission of ABRI in the province.

From what I know about the Acehnese -- as I was stationed here from 1979 to 1981 and from 1982 to 1984 -- they are temperamental, but honest and loyal.