Continuing violations in Aceh threaten peace pact

Continuing violations in Aceh threaten peace pact

Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh

The cessation of hostilities agreement that Indonesia and the
Free Aceh Movement (MOU) signed in Geneva on Dec. 9, 2002, has
come under threat following a series of violations over the last
two months.

The latest violation occurred on Thursday when a group of
rebels shot Chief Pvt. Hadi in Krueng Teunom village, Lammo
district, West Aceh.

The victim was shot on his way with other civilians to a
gathering with local people in the village.

Hadi, who suffered serious chest injuries, was evacuated by
military helicopter to hospital in the provincial capital.

The Joint Security Committee (JSC) representing the
government, international monitors and GAM, said it had yet to
receive a report on the shooting.

The incident followed the attack on two members of a battalion
of the Army's Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) in Rampah
village, East Aceh, on Tuesday. Second Private Warsono was killed
in the incident while Second Lt. Dian Fitriansyah was rushed to
the hospital in Medan, capital of North Sumatra.

The police recorded more than 50 violations committed both by
the military and the rebels only a week after the cessation of
hostilities agreement was signed.

Meanwhile, the JSC regretted the continuing violations, saying
it would investigate all incidents thoroughly and impose
penalties on truce violators.

"We regret the numerous incidents that have taken place over
the last few days. But, both of the conflicting sides must
enforce the peace accord and all the violations handled in
accordance with the law," David Gorman, the HDC's project
manager, said in a weekly press briefing here on Thursday.

The 150-member JSC has assigned a number of teams to
investigate all the incidents that have occurred since the
signing of the peace accord, and these investigations are
expected to be completed this month.

Dian, who is still receiving treatment in the military
hospital in Medan, condemned the rebel attack, saying GAM should
be held responsible for its men's violations of the peace
agreement.

"So far, the military has controlled its personnel and they
have complied with the cessation of hostilities agreement, but
three soldiers have been shot dead already," he said, adding that
he was ready to help the JSC and local police arrest the
attackers.

Major Indra Nasution, the commandant of the Kostrad Battalion,
condemned the two latest attacks and called on the JSC and the
local police to bring the attackers to justice.

"Both the JSC and the police must act firmly against the truce
violators so as to maintain the cease-fire and ensure that the
law is upheld in the implementation of the peace accord," he
said.