Acehnese are Indonesians, too

My fears have been sadly borne out over these long years. Nowhere in Indonesia is more violence sustained on a daily basis than in Aceh because of military and separatist operations since 1989. Far from trying to soothe the Aceh problem, irresponsible soldiers, whose conduct Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen. Wiranto once admitted "exceeded acceptable norms", are coming back again.

ABRI's failure to solve the problem lawfully tragically stoked the fires in the Lhok Nibong bloody incidents in East Aceh, in which seven off-duty military personnel died. Before too long, the North Aceh Police, who were involved in the Wibawa Operation (which many in Aceh consider an ABRI euphemism for brutal and barbaric operations in the province), took revenge by killing many helpless civilians, among them a one-year-old baby and a grandmother. Hundreds of innocent civilians were left seriously injured.

On Jan. 7, 1999, Gen. Wiranto told the House of Representatives that he would take cultural and religious approaches in solving the problem of Aceh.

Do you know what has happened to the helpless Acehnese through Gen. Wiranto's new genial approaches? On Jan. 9, ABRI conducted the Wibawa '99 Operation in Meunasah Blang, Kandang, arrested at least 38 Acehnese and took them for interrogation to the Indonesian Youth National Committee building which is located just beside Col. Johnny Wahab's office of the Lilawangsa Military Command. After the interrogation, a group of 50 soldiers cowardly and brutally beat the innocent and helpless Acehnese, causing the deaths of two people at the site, and later another two died in Tjoet Meutia General Hospital, Lhokseumawe. The rest were severely injured, with some left in critical condition.

I believe ABRI has the right to do its job, including through the Wibawa '99 Operation of cultural and religious approaches in Aceh. Yet, from the facts, we can see a lot of casualties have fallen among the innocent Acehnese. ABRI's actions, despite its argument to enforce the security and stability for Aceh, are actually something that will leave a legacy which is more volatile than the condition it seeks to cure.

Indonesia is a country of law, where everybody has equal rights before the law. As Indonesians, the Acehnese could never understand why the ABRI personnel who committed crimes during the military operation in Aceh from 1989 to 1998 could continue enjoying their freedom without having to face trial.

That is why it is very important for Gen. Wiranto to immediately arrest and put them on trial. Otherwise, ABRI personnel will think they can simply go in to Aceh and kill any Acehnese as they wish, without fear of facing consequences under Indonesian law. If Gen. Wiranto cannot do his job, he should resign because it means he is not good to the Acehnese as well as to the country.

NASRULLAH DAHLAWY

Lhokseumawe, Aceh