Acehnese see military abuse as root of problem

Acehnese see military abuse as root of problem

Aceh has recently seen an upsurge of separatist sentiment, which has been accompanied by a string of bloody attacks and counterattacks by members of the Free Aceh Movement and the Indonesian Military. Although the decade-long military operations in the province were officially halted last year, the scars still remain for many, and have led to a renewed quest for secession. The Jakarta Post reporter Budiman Moerdijat and photographer Arief Suhardiman went recently to a separatist rebel base in a remote village in Pidie.

LHOKSEUMAWE, North Aceh (JP): "The government," said an emotional Acehnese agricultural worker, "should hang 3,500 soldiers who slaughtered Acehnese during recent military operations. If it does so, I would remain loyal to Indonesia, and if not I would probably join the Free Aceh Movement."

The agricultural worker is one of about 1,000 people staying in a refugee camp in the North Aceh district of Samalanga fearing another round of military operations against suspected secessionist rebels in their villages.

Such outspokenness is typical among the Acehnese who have been traumatized by military brutality, often committed on the pretext of defending people against the armed Free Aceh Movement rebels.

People like the agricultural worker believe that swift and thorough action to redress past human rights abuses in the restive province is the only solution to the political trouble in Aceh.

The military conducted operations against the rebels from 1989 to 1998. Throughout the period, the province was frequently subjected to brutal treatment by the military.

Although the military operations status was lifted last year, the increasing eases of violence in the resource-rich province has compelled the military to maintain its heavy presence in some areas.

Pidie, North Aceh and East Aceh regencies have been the worst- affected by the military operations. Calls for a referendum on self-determination and an election boycott have been strongest in these areas.

"We don't need the elections 'said Suleman, a villager taking shelter in another refugee camp in Alue Lim, North Aceh.

"What we want now is independence, because we Acehnese people are tired of being fooled."

Thousands of Acehnese have fled to school buildings and mosques in Pidie and North Aceh because of heavy military presence in their villages.

At least 1,200 riot troops have been deployed in the province to secure the elections. However, calls for an election boycott were largely successful as only a few voters showed up on June 7.

"Low voter turnout shows that what the people really want is either a referendum or independence," said Otto Syamsuddin Ishak, a social observer in the provincial capital of Banda Aceh.

Otto, however, acknowledges that the mounting calls for a referendum or full-fledged independent Aceh are not viable demands at present.

"The demand is triggered by hatred of the atrocities that the military has committed, so this is an emotional expression reflecting years of suffering," Otto said.

Local government statistics show that more than 1,000 people were killed while thousands of others suffered during the 1989- 1998 military operations.

"Calls for a referendum are snowballing throughout Aceh because the people are fed up with empty promises, they have been oppressed for many years," Otto said.

Key to a solution of the Acehnese problem, he asserts, are prompt and thorough legal measures against the alleged perpetrators of rights violations.

"Unfortunately, it seems that the government does not have any clear agenda to resolve past human rights abuses ... the local government even welcomed the arrival of fresh riot troops. This is an indication that they are not serious about protecting human rights."

Military chief Gen. Wiranto sent three battalions of riot troops to the province shortly after the May 3 military shootings in Krueng Geukueh village, some 15 kilometers west of the North Aceh capital of Lhokseumawe, in which at least 41 civilian protesters were killed.

Locals see the heavy military presence in the province as only worsening public fear.

"People here strongly dislike the military. So if troops go to the villages, the people will flee," Ahmad Farhan Hamid head of the Aceh Elections Committee, said.

Ahmad's statement gained credence when thousands of Acehnese in North Aceh and Pidie fled last week to mosques, school buildings and empty shops out of fear of military activity in their villages.

Hundreds of people sought shelter on Sunday in a mosque in Alue Lim after seeing troops set up a monitoring post near the village.

Blang Mangat and other nearby villages, including Kandang and Simpang Kramat, are known to be strongholds of the separatist movement.

The red crescent and star flag -- symbol of the Free Aceh Movement D is painted on dozens of school buildings and rooftops in the areas.

Thousands of people also took shelter on Monday in mosques and school buildings in Ulee Gle in Bandar Dua district, Pidie, some 12 5 kilometers west of Lhokseumawe.

The refugees were from 36 nearby villages who fled after the military entered their villages on Sunday searching for alleged separatist rebels.

Violence has been on the rise in the province over the past two weeks. In this time, at least 20 people, including soldiers, police, a female doctor and election officials, were killed in a series of surprise attacks.

Dozens of schools and government buildings have also been set on fire by unidentified groups of people.

The Free Aceh Movement, also known by the acronym GAM, has been accused by the military of being responsible for the violence, but the allegations were flatly denied by the separatist group.

Many local people, especially in rural areas, also believe the group was not behind the violence.

"The violence has been perpetrated to discredit GAM so that it Win lose people's sympathy. This sort of trick was carried out in the early years of military operations," Otto said.

"GAM now has the popular support and it is growing stronger because it has been proven that some cases of violence were committed by military personnel."

A number of military personnel have been arrested in the past week in connection with the attacks on government offices.