Another suspicious policy

Up until late last week, the authorities appeared to be closed-minded to demands of the restive people of Aceh that the high-handed Crack Riot Troops (PPRM) be withdrawn from their province.

The governor of the province earlier said that the troops' presence there, which was intended to crush the armed separatist movement, had scared the populace so intensely that thousands of them sought refuge in mosques and other shelters far from the military. Military Commander Gen. Wiranto was quick in denying the charge, saying the troops never tried to scare anybody.

But in reality, the number of refugees sharply increased every day until it reached 145,000, a worrying trend in the sparsely populated province. The tendency soon alarmed many circles in Jakarta. Many people, especially students, staged protests against the way the military was handling the Aceh crisis.

Up until last weekend, the government remained unmoved. It was not only Wiranto who dug in his heels about the matter, President B.J. Habibie, in his state to the nation address on the weekend, also said PPRM was there to stay.

However, four days later Wiranto told Acehnese leaders in a meeting in Banda Aceh, the province's capital, that he would redeploy the troops. In addition, as a positive reaction to what he claimed was local people's request, he said a regional military command (Kodam) would be established in Aceh. Previously, the province was under the jurisdiction of the Bukit Barisan (North and Central Sumatra) Military Command, which is headquartered in Medan.

Many people have welcomed the troops redeployment, but at the same time they have voiced concern over the plan to establish a military command. All suspect Wiranto's real intention for Aceh. Local students say such a policy foretells a frightening future for Aceh because it means the military will continue to take a brutal approach in its effort to settle the crisis.

People in Jakarta have reacted in much the same way. Many say that the Acehnese have repeatedly stated that what they need is only justice. They want to see those involved in brutal massacres, rape and torture of innocent people -- inclusive of women and young girls -- during the last nine years of inhumane military operations there brought to trial.

That the presence of the PPRM has revived the trauma is completely understandable. The troops were seen as the return of hungry tigers, except they were in different skins and colors. The modest people ran away for safety.

It appears Wiranto has made every effort to avoid shouldering the responsibility. He now seems to be patronizing the Acehnese, as though they are simple people who can be soothed by a new promise. The maneuver seems to be of the same quality as Habibie's promise when he invited himself to Aceh in March and vowed that he would have a railway system built there.

At the time, many observers asked when and where did the Acehnese demand an upgraded transportation system? For the Acehnese, things are clear. As long as those involved in the violation of human rights go unpunished, the Acehnese will see all troops as armed perpetrators who believe they stand above the law.

Meanwhile, a military expert has also said that from the military's point of view, the establishment of a new Kodam is in contradiction with the reorganization of the military command. About a decade ago the number of Kodam throughout Indonesia was reduced from 17 to nine.

Now the number should even be further decreased pending a return of civilian rule -- in which the police will play an important role in security -- since Indonesia faces no foreign aggressors.

A decrease in the number of Kodam would be justifiable, especially considering how the newly established Kodam in Maluku has failed to stop the security situation there slipping from bad to worst.

The present government, which clearly bears the mentality of the Soeharto regime, has always claimed its policies have been for the good of the people. But which people was the government acting on behalf of all these years, right through from the five farcical reelections of president Soeharto until 1998?