Aceh and ABRI
Aceh and ABRI
From D&R
An interview published in D&R magazine on Jan. 16 with Prof.
Nazaruddin Sjamsudin, a professor at the University of Indonesia
has stimulated me to respond. The article concerned the
inappropriate attitude of the Armed Forces (ABRI), particularly
in Aceh.
I am of the opinion that the shelving of the Aceh issue is the
result of longstanding ABRI-inflicted injustices in the province.
Manifestations of these injustices include: the disproportional
exploitation of natural resources, robberies, the torching and
damaging of properties and even alleged rapes.
In his interview, Prof. Nazaruddin seemed keen to leave an
impression that the Aceh issue stems from differences between
Aceh and non-Aceh residents; between Islamic and non-Islamic view
points. This was reflected clearly in his statement that ABRI
units deployed in Aceh have more non-Acehnese as well as non-
Islamic personnel. Such an unbalanced deployment of troops does
not occur in Bali, East NusaTenggara, East Timor or Irian Jaya.
Elsewhere in the interview, the professor states that the
removal of Regional Military Command I/Iskandar Muda was
completed during the tenure of former armed forces commander
Benny Moerdani. This comment is a transparent and irrelevant
provocation regarding the non-issue of Islam in the Aceh issue.
It is not my intention to defend Benny, however I would like to
remind Prof. Nazaruddin that the Iskandar Muda regional military
command was not the only one terminated by the former ABRI
commander. I believe that injustices did not only occur during
Benny's tenure, but happened before and after Benny's term of
office. It is unfair to single Benny out as a sole military
figure responsible for all ABRI misconduct.
As a scholar, lecturer and public figure, Prof. Nazaruddin
should not try to fish in troubled waters. Aceh is not unlike our
other trouble spots of Irian Jaya, East Timor, Lampung, Tanjung
Priok, Situbondo and Tasikmalaya. (The list could go on.) I am
deeply concerned about the sufferings of my Acehnese brethren.
However, some groups have taken advantage of the people's
suffering instead of trying to alleviate or even eradicate the
problem.
P.M. SUSBANDONO
Tangerang, West Java