Disband militias, warns Aceh NGO

JAKARTA: A non-governmental organization (NGO) expressed its concern about the presence of 19 alleged militias in Aceh, which all fall under the supervision of the local military command.

In a statement signed by coordinator Bonar Tigor Naipospos, the Friends of Aceh said the militias could trigger conflict among civilians in the war-torn province.

"To avoid excesses in the future, we suggest the military to dissolve the militias as soon as possible," the statement said.

The NGO said the military was emulating its strategy in East Timor, where people of the former Indonesian province killed each other over the independence issue. -- JP