Constructive approach needed for Aceh

By Yulius P. Hermawan

BANDUNG (JP): It is pure irony that human rights violence in Aceh has been increasing dramatically after Aceh's status of the Military Operation Zone (DOM) was removed by a military commander in August 1998. The increase of sporadic resistance movements provides a strong reason for the Indonesian Military (TNI) to continue their operation in the so-called verandah of Mecca.

The military forces' method to overcome the resurgence of the movement does not have a clear-cut constructive concept. Military personnel and police brutally hunt all those suspected as leaders and members of the movement. Hundreds of people were reportedly killed after the removal of Aceh's military zone status.

History notes Aceh's case, as it becomes more complicated, is one of the main errors committed by the transitional government. President Habibie's promise to solve the problem has in fact made people suffer more. In many respects, the case convinces them that the promise was only a political commodity in regard to Habibie's bid to collect public confidence.

It is regrettable that the government does not have a clear- cut concept to build peace in Aceh, other than its principle to defend the unity of the nation. The military approach, which tends to be reactive rather than anticipatory, indicates the government has no planned comprehensive method to create stability in Aceh. We can see how brutal military personnel are when reacting to any activity by the movement. Such an approach is destructive as it disturbs the order of local society.

Even now, the military claims publicly that they do not see the existence of the organized movement that is struggling for some considerable demands. This is to say that the military is now fighting against a group of people who are creating chaos in some regions of the province. Such a claim sharpens the conflict when the real movement actively escalates their open clashes against the police and the military personnel. Their main targets are to raise solidarity among people in Aceh as well as in other regions of the country and to show the world that human rights violence in Aceh is as bad as that in East Timor, Kosovo and other countries. This is one method of resistance adopted by East Timorese when struggling for new status.

Yet, it may not be fortunate that the public is now focusing on the political elite's game in Jakarta. Not many people are concerned with the ongoing bloody tragedy in the western part of Indonesia. This helps President Habibie sustain his reluctance to respond to escalating clashes. Meanwhile, people in Aceh cannot hope the House of Representatives (DPR) will do something helpful as all House members are now busy in producing new laws.

The brutal, reactive approach brings a negative impact on political life in the future. First, the new government will face many difficulties in investigating the wrongdoing of the past regime as well as in conducting other state affairs. There will be many players behind the wrongdoing who will demand government protection, instead of facing their misdeed to create instability.

Secondly, the Indonesian Military (TNI) will have a reasonable argument to sustain their political role. They will demand civil recognition of their strategic role for national security and defense. This is a serious obstacle in the reform of the TNI's dual function. Furthermore, the police and TNI's image have been deteriorating after they failed to prove their new paradigm in solving Aceh's issues. There is no change of paradigm at all.

A thorough problem-solving itinerary is a theme that the new People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) needs to focus on. The MPR should make it the national agenda and issue a decree for an investigation into the past regime in regard with human rights violence in Aceh as well as in East Timor and Irian Jaya. The human rights violation should be seen as a crucial wrongdoing in regard to the practice of corruption, collusion and nepotism. The completion of the MPR's mandate will be responsible to the new government under the supervision of the DPR.

Bringing up the issue at the MPR's General Session will also mean the MPR has the right to demand responsibility from the current government. This will raise a new challenge for Habibie if he wants to be elected. That is to say his ability to calm people in Aceh will certainly affect whether the MPR will consider his candidacy.

The military should withdraw from the battlefield and see the players involved in the battle. The existence of the resistance movement should be recognized. The government and the military should not wait to do so while the organized movement grows bigger and clashes cause more deaths and injuries. As leaders of the movement can perform as a rational agent, they may initiate the peaceful reconciliation.

There is no reason to fear demands for a referendum in Aceh. It is still not too late to examine whether all the Acehnese really wish to establish an independent country. The delay of reconciliation will provide a chance for the movement to develop their organization and activities and to gain national and worldwide support. If that happens, the movement will raise their flag in victory for leading Aceh into another bloody arena for the world to watch.

Everyone should understand that the people's resistance in Aceh is only one form of the manifestation of their impatience in waiting for a concrete result to the ongoing political change. We should not forget that all Indonesians in other places are also waiting for the same thing. This is a logical consequence of the grand failure of the past regime to generate welfare for the whole nation. The difference is that each component of the nation has their own way to express such impatience.

The writer is a lecturer on international relations at the Parahyangan Catholic University and a member of the institute for humanity studies, in Bandung.