Acehnese waiting for justice: Mustafa

Acehnese waiting for justice: Mustafa

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): A noted Acehnese figure has urged the
government to prosecute military perpetrators of murder and abuse
during the terrifying years of violence and repression in Aceh as
one of the prerequisites for resolving the Aceh problem.

Mustafa Abdullah, deputy chairman of the United Development
Party's (PPP) branch office which achieved a landslide victory in
the strife-torn province during the 1999 general election, said
that taking the guilty parties to court constituted an act most
desired by the Acehnese.

The trials of Indonesian Military (TNI) generals for human
rights violations should be followed by the implementation of
democratic values, he said.

"I think these trials are the most crucial step Megawati must
take for the sake of proving her seriousness in this matter,"
Mustafa told The Jakarta Post while discussing President Megawati
Soekarnoputri's plan to visit the province.

The President was originally planned to begin her trip to Aceh
on Sunday, but the visit was postponed until later next week. The
President's itinerary and length of stay in the province is still
uncertain.

The Aceh people have little faith in the government, Mustafa
said, adding that what they want now is for all the promises made
by the country's leaders to be honored.

"Many promises have been made by the government, but not a
single one of them has been fulfilled so far... therefore, it's
understandable that the majority of the Acehnese people no longer
have any faith in Jakarta," he said.

The dishonored promises have also made it difficult for
officials of the local administration and members of the
provincial legislative council to communicate with local people,
he said.

Honoring promises has to be followed by an improvement in the
people's welfare, including the prioritizing of good education,
Mustafa said.

Aceh Referendum Information Center (SIRA) head Muhammad Nazar
shared Mustafa's belief, saying that honoring the promises,
democratization and trials of human rights violators are the most
important measures Megawati has to implement if she intends to
visit Aceh.

Commenting on the prosecution of human rights violators, Nazar
said that, it is not only the key to resolving the Aceh problem,
but "constitutes an obligation from a country that claims to be
founded on law and democracy".

"Megawati also has to clarify the integration of Aceh into the
unitary state of Indonesia in a bid to correct history. Ask what
the Aceh people want, whether they will join the Republic of
Indonesia or not. The way ... is through a referendum," Nazar
said.

He further said that Megawati's visit to Aceh would be
ineffective due to the absence of both a clear agenda and who
would represent the Acehnese people.

A dialog, boasted to involve all elements of the community,
including the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), is also doubtful as there
has been no clear explanation about who will represent them, he
said.

"I'm afraid that the government just intends to go to Aceh for
the dialog with the ultimate goal of being forced to use the
military approach because its offer is turned down," Nazar said.

One of GAM's senior field commanders, Amri Abdul Wahab, said
that Megawati's planned visit would be similar to those conducted
by her predecessors.

"It will only cheat the local people again. It will even be
used as an excuse to increase troop deployment," he said.

"The dialog could be successful if it is held in a formal
forum between the government and GAM under the auspices of
foreign observers," he said.

If Megawati insists on visiting Aceh "we will not disturb her
as long as her visit does not disturb us," Amri said, adding that
if the military antagonized locals and pursued GAM members, they
would defend themselves.

Several days ahead of the visit, security has been tightened,
especially around major roads and vital installations. Despite
the security drive, however, violence has not subsided.

At least 10 people, including two GAM members, were killed in
isolated clashes during Wednesday and Thursday.

The two GAM members were reported to be killed in a clash with
military troops at Singgah Mata village in Baktya district, North
Aceh, TNI spokesman Lt. Col. Firdaus said.

GAM spokesman Sofyan Daud admitted that the two victims were
GAM members, but he disclosed that more soldiers were also killed
in the clash, a claim denied by Firdaus. (50/hhr)