Ambassador concerned over shooting of Germans in Aceh

Sri Wahyuni and Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta/Jakarta

German Ambassador to Indonesia Gerhard Fulda on Friday expressed concern over the shooting of two German tourists, one of whom was killed, in war-torn Aceh on Wednesday night, noting that the two were unarmed.

Speaking to journalists in Yogyakarta, Fulda said he himself found it slightly strange for the two Germans to be traveling in the war-zone as German citizens had been warned of the risks of traveling in conflict areas.

"On the other hand I was also a bit astonished that people who were not armed and simply traveling around as tourists could all of a sudden be shot," said Fulda after meeting with Yogyakarta Governor Sultan Hamengkubuwono X at the gubernatorial office complex in Kepatihan.

"We, of course, deplore that tourists who came to this wonderful country have got caught up in this conflict. And I assume they were shot simply because there was no real communication. They didn't understand."

The Ambassador also confirmed that the two German tourists had not contacted the German embassy before leaving for Aceh, but expressed understanding about this, especially given that both tourists had been on a round-the-world trip for the last couple of years.

"This may be one of the reasons why they might not have been fully informed about the risks of traveling in Aceh," he said.

Fulda said that his embassy had received adequate information about what had happened, but was also demanding that an inquiry be held into the shooting.

The ambassador said his office had sent two officers to Banda Aceh.

One was to accompany the wounded tourist from Banda Aceh to Jakarta on Friday, while the other -- who was a military attache -- was to talk to the local authorities to try to find out what really happened.

"And of course we will have a final assessment," he added.

Soldiers shot dead Lothar Heinrich Albert Engel, 53, and wounded Elisabeth Engel, 49, on Wednesday night in an apparent accident after a villager reported suspicious movements behind his home in Lhong Gayo village, Teunom district, Aceh Jaya regency.

The Germans were the first foreign victims since martial law was declared in Aceh some three weeks ago, when the government also warned foreign organizations and individuals against traveling to the province for security reasons.

Meanwhile, a military analyst urged the government and military not to cover up the case, and to conduct a thorough inquiry so as to avoid a possible backlash from the international community.

Ikrar Nusa Bhakti, from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), said that Indonesia must be careful in handling this case so as to prevent the internationalization of the Aceh conflict.

"After our problems with Sweden and Britain, the conflict in Aceh now involves Germany," Ikrar said, urging the government to learn from the East Timor experience.

Indonesia's relations with Sweden have sunk to an all-time low point following pressure on that country to take action against Free Aceh Movement (GAM) leaders living in Sweden.

Britain, meanwhile, has asked Indonesia not to use British- made Hawks warplanes against the rebels in Aceh. The Indonesian Air Force, however, insisted that it would continue to use the Hawks to provide air cover for the military operation, and, if the situation were to worsen, in offensive operations.

Another military observer, Suaidi Marasabessy, said that the shooting should not create a furor as soldiers were under a lot of stress given that they could be attacked at any time by GAM rebels.

The incident, Suaidi said, also occurred in the dark, which made it difficult for the troops to identify who they were shooting at.

"Moreover, there was the language barrier," he said.

Both Ikrar and Suaidi, nevertheless, said that it was not common practice for the military to ask a victim to make out an affidavit.

"It's not usual, but the military may have done it because they find themselves in an extraordinary situation," Ikrar said.

Suaidi added that the affidavit, which was allegedly made with the agreement of the wounded and hospitalized victim, was needed to prove that the troops had only been doing their duty.