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.