Aceh activists call for end to security operation

Aceh activists call for end to security operation

Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh

Acehnese human rights activists questioned on Monday the
effectiveness of Presidential Instruction No. 1/2002 on the
Comprehensive Solution to Aceh's Problems to settle the conflict
in the province as its six-month deadline nears, while violence
remains unabated.

The instruction, issued in January and aimed at coordinating
social, economic and security issues to end the separatist
movement in the province, has provided justification for the
Indonesian Military (TNI) to do whatever it takes to maintain law
and order.

"As long as the government keeps the decree alive, violence
will continue in the province," Tarmizi, of the Aceh Legal Aid
Foundation, said on Monday, while adding there had been hundreds
of cases of violence registered by the foundation since January.

He charged that the TNI had used the article on law
enforcement to prioritize the use of force instead of dialog in
ending the conflict in Aceh.

"Law enforcement should have brought many cases of violence to
court, not by conducting raids that sometimes missed their target
and victimized common people," Tarmizi added.

He pointed out that the security apparatus had carried out
many unlawful arrests against members of the separatist Free Aceh
Movement (GAM), without giving any clear reasons.

"It's like a repetition of former military operations," he
said, while referring to the imposition of the Military Operation
Zone (DOM) in the past.

The instruction was first issued by then president Abdurrahman
Wahid in April 2000, after a humanitarian pause agreed by both
the government and GAM failed to end clashes in the province.

The instruction focused on economic rehabilitation, law
enforcement and all-inclusive talks to end the prolonged
conflict.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri maintained the policy and
issued an extension to the instruction in January, but as its
deadline nears, the all-inclusive talks have yet to be realized
and the TNI continues to wage war against the separatist
movement.

Tarmizi underlined that it was impossible for the government
to conduct talks, but at the same time stepped up pressure
against GAM, which is supposed to be the government's dialog
partner.

Another activist Abdulrahman Yacob underlined that the
continuation of the instruction would backfire, as people would
lose their trust in the government.

"The people of Aceh are tired of the violence and it has to
end," he remarked.

He cited the traumatic 10-year military operation in Aceh,
which ended in 1999. The ongoing law enforcement operation has
brought back many bad dreams and memories for a large number of
people.

Tarmizi expressed pessimism that the central government would
pay attention to the Acehnese concern over the law enforcement
operation.

"When the government finally set a date for the talks, they
will talk about security and underline the importance of law
enforcement to continue the implementation of the instruction,"
he said.