Aceh truce violations threaten peace deal
Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh, Aceh
The almost two-month-old cessation of hostilities agreement between Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) is under threat by violations committed by both sides.
Both GAM and the military have been found guilty of numerous violations and neither side has taken action against those responsible for the breaches, leading to a loss of mutual confidence.
The local military has gone so far as to accuse GAM of consolidating its operations and extorting residents in order to purchase weapons.
The Joint Security Committee (JSC), which oversees the implementation of the peace accord, has recorded a total of 499 complaints of violations over the last two months.
The chief of the Lilawangsa Military District in Lhokseumawe, A. Y. Nasution, said he had evidence that GAM was forcing villages to give Rp 30 million to the separatist movement for the purchase of arms.
"GAM has set Feb. 12 as the deadline for village heads in the province to pay the money, in line with the celebration of the Islamic Day of Sacrifice. Also, GAM has used villagers as human shields in their attacks on administration and military personnel.
"We call on our brothers in GAM not to use innocent people as shields in any confrontation with us. And GAM should no longer incite innocent people to violence against security personnel," he said.
The Oil and Gas Implementing Body (GP Migas) also has complained of extortion by GAM of oil and gas mining companies in the province. It accuses GAM of extorting companies following the signing of the peace agreement on Dec. 9, 2002.
JSC, which includes representatives from the Indonesian government and GAM, as well as international monitors, has received 499 reports of violations by both sides. It is investigating 49 cases and has completed investigations into three cases.
GAM has yet to impose sanctions against its members who were found guilty of shooting a soldier in Lokop, East Aceh, on Jan. 14, and another one in Lammo, Aceh Jaya, on Jan. 16.
Nasution urged GAM to comply with the peace deal and to stop reinforcing its armed wing, which he said would only lead to further unrest in the province.
"According to the peace accord, Aceh remains an integral part of Indonesia, so GAM should not dream of independence as long as the military is still in the province. Ask its members to go back to their previous lives," he said.
Maj. Gen. Djali Yusuf, chief of the Iskandar Muda Military Command, threatened to use force if GAM continued to violate the truce accord.
"If they violate the agreement, there's no other option for us but to use force and take emergency action," Djali Yusuf was quoted as saying by the local Serambi daily.
"GAM has spread many lies among the public. If they do not want (to abide by the agreement) just say so. February 9 will be the test," he said, referring to the date by which GAM is required to start turning in its weapons at designated sites.
And last Friday, the rebels accused the military of bad faith.
"We ... feel that the Indonesian side is still not sincere in honoring the clauses of the agreement. They are still intensely seeking any loophole to be used and abused for their advantage," GAM spokesman Sofyan Daud said.
"The TNA (Aceh national army) is still sending condolences to the families of victims of killings and other atrocities perpetrated by the Indonesian side," Daud said as quoted by AFP.
Since the signing of the peace deal at least 19 civilians, three rebels and five members of the security forces have been killed, which still represents a decrease in the violence in the province.