Aceh needs humanitarian approach: Governor

Aceh needs humanitarian approach: Governor

By M.M.I. Ahyani

BANDUNG (JP): More than 53,000 Acehnese fleeing intimidation
and rumored clashes between the military and separatist rebels in
several regencies now find themselves sheltered in makeshift
centers. Dozens have died or are ill because of the squalid
conditions, and rarely does a week pass without reports of
gruesome incidents such as shootings, attacks and reprisals.

"I am sad," said Aceh Governor Syamsuddin Mahmud when asked
about what should be done to end the conflict. "Aceh needs a
humanitarian approach."

Syamsuddin, a former rector of state Syiah Kuala University in
the provincial capital of Banda Aceh, earned the respect of many,
especially students, when he came out in support of their call
for a referendum on self-determination and greater autonomy from
the central government.

The following are excerpts from his interview with The Jakarta
Post on Saturday in Bandung, where he was attending the congress
of the Association of Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals (ICMI).

Question: How bad is the situation in the province?

Answer: We are concerned about the refugee situation. They
keep on flowing in because of intimidation ... residents feel
threatened by rumors of armed conflicts. This has been going on
for several months, but the rumors have so far proven groundless.
But the residents have been traumatized so whatever the rumors
are, they become scared. This is why they left their villages
without bothering to take anything along.

I am so sad to see the situation. This is beyond human
resilience. (There's) a disregard of the fate of the children and
the elderly. Now their condition is declining fast ... some even
have died.

Who is intimidating the residents? Is it the military
personnel?

What's clear is that they are groups of unknown people. They
do not call themselves GAM (Free Aceh Movement). I really can't
understand how they could be so cruel.

I have not seen signs of intimidation from the Indonesian
Military.

How long will this situation be tolerated?

We keep urging the refugees to return. We promise security,
naturally. The matter of security in Aceh, however, rests with
the police... I am hoping for additional police reinforcements
and equipment and facilities.

We are not only exhorting the refugees to return. We are
praying for them. We have sent da'i (preachers) to meet with
refugees. The number of refugees so far is 53,000 people... they
are now looking for a safe haven in mosques.

What assistance has the government extended to the refugees?

Of course there is assistance. But it has to go through proper
channels, namely non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
Otherwise, it also can create problems.

Several NGOs have called for foreign agencies, such as the Red
Cross, to step in. What do you think?

I have never heard of such requests. But there's already the
(International Committee of the) Red Cross there. But I consider
them to be regular requests; if it's considered necessary, why
not? The United Nations has its own rules, and it will first have
to ask permission from the government. That's what the Red Cross
did. Through the foreign ministry, it sent out information that
it was coming. It's been in Aceh for months now.

What has the local government done to handle the refugee
situation?

I don't remember everything. We have exhausted our efforts. We
sent out preachers, youths, (activists) of the Indonesian Muslim
Students, the Muhammadiyah youth, mosque activists. They all work
so hard, but they have not been successful yet (in persuading
refugees to return home). But we must not give up. Maybe they are
still afraid. Besides, there are still mysterious shootings, (so
no wonder) people are frightened.

Do you have a special budget to handle the refugee situation?

There's no special budget ... Whatever is needed, it will be
provided. There is a continuous effort. The other members of
society also help. There's plenty of help ... including from the
Ministry of Social Services. We discussed the situation the other
day at the National Development Planning Board.

Help is available not in the form of money, but in goods,
rice, food supplements. All is being channeled through the
relevant sector, namely the ministries of social services,
transmigration, etc.

How were the June 7 elections in Aceh and especially the three
troubled regencies of East Aceh, North Aceh and Pidie?

The problems occurred only in two regencies, actually,
although (security disturbances) did take place in the three
regencies.

In East Aceh, for instance, most people went to the polls.
Only five of the 19 districts there did not hold the polls. And
they are all districts that border North Aceh. But the number of
registered voters who voted in North Aceh reached 50 percent.

In North Aceh, the number of eligible voters was the highest
but those who registered made up only 20 percent. Of the 20
percent registered, only 1 percent went to the polling stations
and voted. Too small a number.

That's what happened in Pidie, too. About 22 percent of all
eligible voters were registered, but only 6,00 people, or 10
percent, went to the polling stations. Very low turnouts, indeed.

So could it be said the polls in Aceh failed?

That's not the yardstick to measure the success of the polls
in Aceh. The General Elections Commission did not issue any
standards on what percentage of voter turnout could be called a
success or a failure now, did it?

(What's important is) the general election was held in Aceh.
Those who had the right to vote, voted. In all of Aceh, the poll
turnout was almost 60 percent. Compare it with (some countries
in) Europe where poll turnout is around 40 percent.

Any plans to rehold the poll in some Aceh regencies?

There won't be any reholding of the vote. I was informed by
the General Elections Commission there would not be any reholding
of polls because the situation would not permit it.

How do you see the future of Aceh?

I see the current conflicts in Aceh as social unrest (stemming
from residents' quest) for autonomy and disappointment. The
prolonged disappointment sparked (the conflicts) in combination
with remnants of Darul Islam (the quest for an Islamic state by
separatist groups in the 1950s).

Some people consider the promised autonomy not enough ... they
think it's not yet realized, anyway. It will take time and
energy.

What about the demand for a referendum?

That also stemmed from disappointment. The government has yet
to prove (its pledge) of wide-ranging autonomy. It is something
which is not existent. All this time, everything is handled in a
centralized manner.

(The disappointment of the Acehnese) is sparked by something
which has been in operation since the time of Darul Islam. Hasan
Tiro was a leader of the Darul Islam. Despite the end to the
(quest for an Islamic state) within Aceh, he still operates. He
does not know what Aceh is like today. He is not here (Hasan Tiro
is reportedly in Sweden).

I think the supporters of Hasan Tiro are only a small group.
But the ones who create the most uproar are those with arms...
They are in guerrilla groups. A very small force, and divided as
well.

Why hasn't the local government tried appeasement, for
instance by meeting Hasan Tiro?

That's what we want to do now, we are going in that
direction... we're seeking negotiations. But where can we reach
them? It's different from the Darul Islam situation, when there
were clear leaders, clear addresses. Those who were involved in
the negotiations were the governor and the (separatist)
commander.

It's not like that now. We need different teams to do
different things, including approaching those in the areas where
armed contacts have taken place. There's another question of
willingness. Would they be willing to sit down together and
negotiate?

Besides the disappointment, what else is a problem in Aceh?

Unlike Jakarta and Yogyakarta, there's no law that supports
Aceh's status as a special region. The status was reached in Aceh
through a mission of negotiations (from Sukarno's government)
with the then Darul Islam, which was established in a decree.

At the time, deputy prime minister Hardi from the Cabinet of
Djuanda was appointed by the government to lead this mission to
meet with Darul Islam leaders in Aceh. The result was the status
of special region on matters such as religious affairs, education
and traditions. In reality, this has not been put into practice
because of the centralistic nature of our system.

Aceh has been treated the same as other regions. The name
"special region of Aceh" is merely that, a name.

What does Aceh need so the conflicts can be solved?

I think Aceh needs a humanitarian approach.