Concerns raised about top-level Army meeting in Aceh

Concerns raised about top-level Army meeting in Aceh

Nani Farida and Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post,Lhokseumawe/Jakarta

Army chief of staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu urged soldiers to be
ready to maintain security in some conflict-torn areas, secure
next year's election and guard against possible terrorism threats
despite the military's funding shortfall.

"The limited budget must not weaken our vigor to carry out our
duties," Ryamizard said at a meeting of the Army's top brass in
Lhokseumawe, Aceh.

In Jakarta, a military analyst and a rights campaigner
criticized the decision to hold the leadership meeting in the
war-torn province of Aceh, saying it would certainly impact on
the current peace process there.

He claimed policies on Aceh were not discussed as it was the
responsibility of Coordinating Minister for Political and
Security Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Ryamizard, however, told the press that there was no intention
of deploying more troops in Aceh despite increasing disturbances
in the regency of Central Aceh.

He further said that the Army would rearrange military
personnel in the Trikora and Iskandar Muda military commands in
Papua and Aceh respectively.

The Iskandar Muda military command controls three infantry
units in East Aceh, Bireuen and Meulaboh.

There was no need to deploy more troops in Aceh if local
people could maintain security, he said.

The four-star general added that Army soldiers would keep
protecting vital oil assets in Aceh and vowed to bring those
extorting money from foreign companies there to court.

The meeting took place at the assembly hall of gas company PT
Arun.

Ryamizard said the meeting was aimed at showing Army leaders
the condition in Aceh as well as giving soldiers moral support.
It would also convince Aceh people on the commitment of the Army
to solve problems.

Rizal Sukma of the Centre for Strategic and International
Studies (CSIS) and Munir, a co-founder of the National Commission
for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) said the
meeting in Aceh was a vote of no-confidence in the government's
handling of the Aceh question.

They also warned that "time has shown that the military
approach has never helped the country cope with separatism
conflicts."

Rizal said the meeting, ending Friday, could only mean that
the military, especially the Army, was annoyed with the
government's decision to promote a non-violent solution to the
Aceh problem.

"It's a pity that thus far civilian politicians have also
failed to uphold their supremacy over the military in dealing
with conflicts across the country," Rizal said during a seminar
organized to discuss the controversial bill on military and its
territorial role.

Munir regretted the Army's decision to hold the meeting there,
expressing fears that it would affect the ongoing peace process.