Civilian rights ignored in Aceh

Civilian rights ignored in Aceh

Soeryo Winoto
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta

What have the Indonesian military (TNI) and Free Aceh Movement
(GAM) gained from the prolonged conflict in Aceh? Nothing but
misery. The civilians have, of course, been the ones to suffer
most from the conflicts, but very little seems to have been
accomplished in their interest.

This circumstance has encouraged a non-governmental
organization that promotes civil rights, the Civil Alliance for
Peace in Aceh, to conduct what it calls a "road show" to promote
peace and the rights of civil society in Aceh.

Risman A. Rachman, coordinator of the Alliance, said that the
main reason for the peace campaign and road show was the violence
against civilians committed during the prolonged battle.

"Almost everybody links Aceh with war and violence, so we're
asking everybody to see Aceh in a different light: Let's see Aceh
with love," Risman said.

"Both GAM and the TNI have been so obsessed with destroying
each other that they have ignored the right of the Acehnese
people to pursue normal lives," he said on a visit to The Jakarta
Post editorial office with two other Alliance members, Afridal
Darmi and Kamal Farza, on Wednesday.

Afridal, who is from the Legal Aid Institute (LBH) in Aceh,
said that the violence must be stopped. "We are all fed up with
war, with dead bodies and killings. Just imagine what might cross
your mind when, while jogging in the morning, some people
intercept you just because they find dead bodies on the side of
the road?"

If the violence does not end soon, more civilians will be
victimized. "The conflict has been going on for 26 years, and
let's say one civilian is killed each month. How many people have
been killed during the 26-year conflict in Aceh?" asked Afridal.

According to the Alliance, the conflict in Aceh has resulted
in widespread human rights violations, stagnant laws, the legal
system and law enforcement, and the exploitation of resources,
including natural, community and individual resources.

"The conflict has also destroyed the culture of peace among
the Acehnese civil society, which had been fading gradually.
People are easily irritated and get angry even over trivial
things. This is very dangerous, as it is as though we are living
in an uncivilized society," he said.

The restrictions placed on community participation in
political affairs are also an effect of the conflict, Risman
added.

During its road show, the Alliance plans to meet with
strategic groups, such as Muhammadiyah, the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU),
NGOs like the International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development
(INFID), the European Commission, foreign diplomats, noted
individuals like Muhammadiyah chairman Achmad Syafii Maarif, and
the media.

"We have yet to meet the gentlemen from NU, but we've already
met Pak Syafii," said Risman. "GAM is not included in our road
show; we have a special team that will meet GAM members to
introduce our peace concepts."

The Alliance, which consists of several NGOs, seeks support
from the strategic groups for the peace building process in Aceh.

"We urge and challenge the strategic groups to push both the
government and GAM to adopt concrete frameworks for peace. We
also want these strategic groups to ensure that the conflict
resolution process is carried out in a fair manner that
acknowledges the aspirations and demands of the Acehnese civil
society," he said.

Meanwhile, Afridal said that the Alliance decided to conduct
the road show because, according to their latest plan, GAM and
the government of Indonesia are to sign a peace deal in Geneva on
Dec. 9.

According to Afridal and Risman, the Henry Dunant Centre,
which has been instrumental in bridging the peace deal, is
apparently lacking in its efforts to push the government and GAM
to trust one another.

"Therefore, we see no guarantees that the peace deal will be
signed on that date. What we are doing now is making public the
Seven Principles for a Peace Agreement," said Afridal.

The seven principles are: 1) Cessation of hostilities,
focusing on decreasing military presence in Aceh (for both GAM
and TNI); 2) Prosecution and punishment of violators of human
rights, in the spirit of truth and justice for upholding human
rights in Aceh; 3) Securing justice and safety for victims of the
Aceh conflict; 4) Implementation of direct elections for a
provincial leader; 5) Policy and organizational reform of the
provincial administration; 6) Cessation of the exploitation of
natural, community and individual resources of Aceh; 7) Inclusion
of active, third-party participation in the political arena of
Aceh.

"We want the seven principles to be adopted and included in
the deal to be signed on Dec. 9," said Risman. "The two warring
camps should quickly adopt a strategic and concrete framework by
signing a peace agreement based on the seven principles."

"Following that, we have what we call Stage B: The
implementation of an Aceh People's Conference to investigate,
formulate and implement policies and frameworks like the seven
principles."

However, both Risman and Afridal said they could not expect
too much from the road show, since the two warring groups are
stubbornly maintaining their respective stances, while Dec. 9 is
drawing nearer. Their measure of optimism is "about 40 percent",
Risman said.

Risman is being realistic. Despite the planned signing of a
peace deal, TNI soldiers are still besieging an area believed to
be one of GAM's strongholds, while GAM commander Teuku Darwis
hinted in a recent interview with a private television station
that the signing would not take place unless TNI fulfills GAM's
conditions. He did not elaborate.

For Aceh, it seems, peace is still far away.