Aceh security forces continue to extort drivers
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.