Acehnese rejoice over withdrawal decision

JAKARTA (JP): Dozens of Acehnese living in Jakarta, including United Development Party (PPP) chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum, held a prayer here to express their joy and relief over the recent Armed Forces' decision to withdraw its troops from Aceh.

Gathered at the Al Azhar Grand Mosque, the Acehnese said they welcomed the move because the westernmost province had suffered from widespread violence and terror over the past 10 years.

Muchtar Aziz, a member of the House of Representatives' team to investigate reports of atrocities committed by the Armed Forces in its military operations in Aceh, expressed hope the decision would help the people recover from their traumas.

"Let's hope (it will heal) the trauma after what the Acehnese experienced and witnessed," he said.

Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto said in Lhokseumawe, East Aceh, on Friday that he had ordered the withdrawal of troops -- other than the region's territorial units -- within a month. Apologizing for the violence that the people suffered, he also said the province's military operations status had been lifted.

Immediately afterward, Aceh Governor Sjamsuddin Mahmud, who officially requested that the status be lifted earlier this month, formed a fact-finding team to investigate reports of rapes, abductions, torture and executions allegedly committed by Armed Forces personnel deployed there.

Rights activists have claimed that Aceh is home to mass graves containing up to 1,000 bodies.

Muchtar pointed out that Aceh, like Irian Jaya and East Timor, was a hotbed of unsettled issues which were created by its military operations status.

However, "Aceh never received the spotlight like East Timor and Irian Jaya. In Aceh, bloodshed, torture and terror were daily occurrences for the people of Pidie, North Aceh and East Aceh," Muchtar said.

Mustafa Abubakar, organizer of yesterday's gathering, said the government should now make an effort to help those affected by the violence, including the widows and children of those executed.

The government must also free Aceh political prisoners jailed for separatism, and uphold human rights, he said.

The Armed Forces stepped up security operations in the province during the early 1990s in response to mounted activity by various rebellious armed groups struggling for an independent Aceh. (emf)