Civilians demand role in fragile Aceh peace
Civilians demand role in fragile Aceh peace
Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh, Aceh
Residents of the troubled Aceh are angry about what they see as
their exclusion from the peace process, which has yet to bring a
complete halt to separatist violence.
Residents say that those in charge of the peace process are
sidelining them and their efforts to get involved in implementing
the Dec. 9 peace pact.
"We are only spectators. We cannot even provide input to the
Henry Dunant Centre (HDC) and the Joint Security Committee
(JSC)," said Rufriadi, head of the Banda Aceh Legal Aid
Institute.
He said that he and other community members had written
several times to the HDC and JSC complaining about violations of
the truce, but had received no response.
"JSC officials have always told us that they do not have the
time to discuss those letters," Rufriadi told The Jakarta Post on
Monday.
Furthermore, he said, activists from non-governmental
organizations occasionally have become the target of abuse after
complaining about continued violence in Aceh.
Since the peace accord, Rufriadi said, his office had received
reports that at least two activists had been put on a list of
wanted people after refusing to answer three police summons for
questioning.
"The two activists are M. Nazar and Kautsar Muhammad Yus, both
(former political prisoners) now being sought by the police for
organizing a major rally," Rufriadi said.
Nazar is a leader of the Aceh Referendum Information Center
(SIRA), which has been campaigning for a referendum to decide
whether Aceh will remain a part of Indonesia or become
independent.
Rufriadi lamented the unequal treatment of civilians in the
peace process, saying the rebel Free Aceh Movement (GAM) was
allowed to "socialize" the truce while other community members
were branded as provocateurs when they expressed their opinions.
He also criticized the JSC, which comprises representatives of
the HDC, GAM and the Indonesian Military (TNI), for focusing only
on incidents that affect their members, not civilians.
"The peace pact only belongs to the TNI, GAM and the JSC,
while civilian groups are merely onlookers," Kautsar told the
Post.
In response, the head of Aceh's Iskandar Muda Military
Command, Maj. Gen. M. Djali Yusuf, accused civilian groups like
SIRA and the Voice of the Acehnese People (Sura) of attempting to
disrupt the peace deal.
"We believe they come to subdistricts to twist the facts of
the truce," he said.
Meanwhile, local politician Sayed Fuad Zakaria urged everyone
in Aceh to help guard the peace deal in order to end 26 years of
hostility in the resource-rich province, which have killed some
10,000 people.
"I hope this momentum will be maintained so as to create long-
lasting peace in Aceh," he was quoted by Antara as saying on
Tuesday.
The truce has significantly reduced violence in the province,
but sporadic outbreaks of violence involving troops and armed
rebels continue to occur, claiming lives on both sides.
Djali also said the TNI was prepared for the worst, including
the possibility of rebels refusing to lay down their arms by Feb.
9.
He said the military had yet to discuss plans for more
reinforcement troops in Aceh. "The number of troops is enough
right now, with about 22,600 soldiers."
He also urged the JSC to be tougher in dealing with truce
violations by members of GAM and TNI. "We will deliver this
(request) through Coordinating Minister for Political and
Security Affairs (Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono)."