Aceh truce violations threaten peace deal

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.