At least 1,041 killed in Aceh in first two weeks of the year
JAKARTA (JP): Aceh's Human Rights Care Forum (FP-HAM Aceh) in Banda Aceh on Tuesday claimed that 1,041 people have been killed in various incidents in Aceh during the first two weeks of the year.
"Most of the victims are civilians," Bathlimus, head of the Forum's investigation, data and documentation division, said.
"The tally (for civilians) is 827 fatalities ... while 147 others were military or police members, and 67 were members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatist rebels," he claimed, adding that over 1,000 people were also injured.
According to the Forum, there were also 1,285 cases of "assaults" taking place, ranging from armed clashes to personal attacks.
"We hope that this data will not only end up being a statistic, but will speed up the process of resolving the violence in Aceh," Bathlimus said.
"We have to stop sacrificing lives."
In a related development, Antara reported that Linggadinsyah, GAM's deputy chief, has confessed that up to 2,000 rebels were trained in Libya between 1986 to 1987.
"I joined GAM in 1986 and studied at one of the faculties in Tripoli. I was first recruited as a translator," he said.
Linggadinsyah, 38, is currently being detained at Aceh Police Headquarters in Banda Aceh. He was arrested in Medan, North Sumatra, a fortnight ago.
Since returning home in 1988, Linggadinsyah has already spent seven years in prison for his seperatist activity.
"One of the GAM leaders that received military training is Ishak Daud," Linggadinsyah said in a media briefing on Tuesday.
Linggadinsyah also said that in Central Aceh there are about 50 armed rebels.
"I cannot go home because I will be considered as cuak (a spy), and I hope that this violence will end," he said, adding that during his time in Libya he met with the exiled GAM leader Hasan Tiro.
Bill
Meanwhile in Jakarta the self-proclaimed Acehnese People's Assembly (MMA) asserted that, despite the House of Representative's likely approval of special autonomy in Aceh, it would still press for a thorough probe on rights abuses in the province.
"The government must continue to investigate human rights abuses that took place in the province during the military operations from 1989 to 1998 and the reform era, to console people seeking justice for the loss of their relatives, and to retain Acehnese confidence," MMA Chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum said in a meeting with the Golkar Party here on Tuesday.
He added that a thorough investigation into rights abuses and the planned special autonomy were part of a comprehensive solution to the Aceh issue.
Ismail called on the Golkar Party to give its political support for the Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam bill that regulates special rights for the province in the areas of religion, culture and education.
He claimed that the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and United Development Party (PPP) factions have already pledged their support for the bill.
Syamsul Muarif, chairman of the Golkar Party, said his faction would also provide its support so that special autonomy could be implemented in the province in May.
The bill stipulates that the province will be allocated 80 percent of profits from the exploration of its natural resources, while the remaining revenue will go to the central government.
The bill is slated to be brought before a plenary house session next week. (rms/edt)