Aceh security forces continue to extort drivers

Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh

Not only has last month's peace deal failed to bring a complete end to bloodshed in Aceh, it has also failed to stop security forces from extorting truck drivers across the troubled province.

The extortion is listed as a serious violation of regulations outlined by the Joint Security Committee (JSC) tasked with monitoring the truce in Aceh.

Many truck drivers have complained about soldiers and police officers demanding money and other valuables in East Aceh and West Aceh.

The demands were often accompanied by threats of violence.

Usman, one of the victims, said he had to pay up to Rp 1.2 million in bribes to security personnel stationed at different posts on the highway during a one-way trip.

The amount could increase markedly if he was stopped by other troops or police officers outside those security posts.

"Although there is a sign in front of every security post, which states people should not give anything to military or police officers, it is not effective at all," Usman told The Jakarta Post.

"The peace agreement has only affected street security, but does not stop extortion," he added, referring to the Dec. 9 truce signed by the government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) to end the 26-year-old separatist conflict.

He said soldiers not only asked drivers for money coercibly, but sometimes looted the contents of their trucks, particularly those carrying shrimp and crab.

"Extorters even sometimes treat us rudely by pointing guns," added Usman, who has been working as a driver for 15 years.

He said that in Aceh there were around 60 security posts set up where truck drivers had to pay bribes.

"There are dozens of other security posts in North Sumatra, where officials also extort us," Usman said, adding that each post demanded between Rp 2,000 and Rp 400,000.

Another victim, Udin, confirmed Usman's account.

He said he and his colleagues were provided with between Rp 1.000,000 and Rp 2.000,000 by their bosses every time they traveled through the main highways.

From that amount, Udin said he only received Rp 400,000. "The money must be shared with my two driving assistants, after being cut for food allowances."

Trucks traveling through western parts of Aceh are not immune.

The worst extortion was faced by trucks carrying logs as they could spend up to Rp 7.000,000 per one-way trip, a driver who wished to remain anonymous said.

The extortions have forced truck operators in Aceh to raise the prices of cargo deliveries, which consequently increased the prices of commodities.

The owner of a cargo transport company, who declined to be named, slammed the security force's methods, which had been occurring for a long time, saying he had to raise delivery charges to cover operational costs.

There had been no clear effort to fight the extortions, or take action against the culprits.

Since 2001, truck drivers and operators have staged strikes at least four times but the unlawful practices have continued unchecked.

JSC officials pledged to move to stop the extortions after they verified the crimes in the field.

Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Safzen Noerdin, an Indonesian serving with the JSC denied involvement of soldiers in the extortions. "I will talk with the Aceh police chief on this issue," he said.