Does extension of conflict in Aceh benefit anyone?
Does extension of conflict in Aceh benefit anyone?
Imanuddin Razak, Staff Writer, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta,
iman@thejakartapost.com
To the surprise of many, the ongoing military offensive
against the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in Nanggroe Aceh
Darussalam province has led down an unexpected path -- the
burning of school buildings.
The move is not only against the United Nations-sanctioned
Geneva convention, which prohibits the attack or bombardment of
undefended towns or buildings (including burning schools), but is
hard to accept as students nationwide, including those in Aceh,
are taking their final examinations.
Luckily the Acehnese students can still sit their finals at
mosques and meunasah (small mosques), which are abundant in
Indonesia's westernmost province.
Many have put the blame on the Indonesian Military (TNI),
especially its intelligence, for its failure to prevent the
burning of schools, mainly in Bireuen and Pidie regencies, two
GAM strongholds.
Some reports put the number of destroyed schools near 400.
An interesting and honest statement -- perhaps in the defense
of the TNI -- was once voiced by former coordinating minister for
political and security affairs Soesilo Soedarman, who said a good
intelligence system would not always mean flawless early
detection of potential security threats.
"The most difficult thing for the TNI to do is to respond or
anticipate a pendadakan (surprise attack)," the late Soesilo
said. "There will always be loopholes, even in a perfect
intelligence system."
An obvious example was probably the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on
two American landmarks -- the Pentagon and the twin towers of the
World Trade Center. But the fact the airplanes managed to escape
the U.S.'s early detection and warning system and hit the targets
confirmed loopholes in the intelligence and security system, no
matter how modern and sophisticated it is.
While declining to specifically pinpoint the party responsible
for triggering the attacks, a retired military officer said the
attacks were undoubtedly meant to ruin the image of each side and
win the sympathy of local people and the international community.
He said "the perpetrators could be from both parties or either
one of them." A few other officers voiced a similar view.
As the TNI and GAM trade accusations and deny responsibility,
it is difficult to name the perpetrators as witnesses only cite
"masked people in black" in action.
The officer, requesting anonymity, added a third party could
have sparked the arson attacks in a bid to see Indonesia torn
apart and divided into smaller and independent regions.
He was referring to the failed Cessation of Hostilities
Agreement (COHA) between the Indonesian government and GAM, in
which GAM rejected Indonesia's demands that it drop its quest for
independence, accept special autonomy for the Nanggroe Aceh
Darussalam province and lay down its arms.
GAM's rejection was seen as surprising as in previous meetings
with Indonesian representatives they had taken a softer line
regarding their position.
It was further surprising to hear reports that TNI troops had
managed to seize new and modern weapons during recent raids and
clashes with GAM members.
Judging from their considerably small figures of about 5,000
members -- with their top leaders living overseas -- and their
scattered areas of influence, it's difficult to believe that GAM
has the money to purchase new and modern weapons and finance its
armed resistance operations.
In comparison, the TNI, which has deployed a force about 10
times the size of GAM, has asked for Rp 1.23 trillion (US$143
million) to finance a six-month operation in Aceh.
Rough and simple calculations show that GAM needs Rp 123
billion for its operations for the same period.
The question would then be whether it is still necessary to
continue burning schools, or continue war in Aceh in general, as
no part would benefit from a prolonged armed conflict.
A victory for the TNI, at least from its viewpoint, will mean
the sustainability of a united Republic of Indonesia.
But, the burning of schools, whoever the perpetrators are,
will have a negative impact on the students as their education
has been disrupted. A relevant question will be whether they are
eligible and capable of entering higher stages of education as
they have learned less than their fellow Indonesians in other
provinces.
A further question for GAM is whether its armed resistance
will bear fruit as they may not be able to win the war at all.
And before the war brings further casualties and financial
loss to both warring parties, it is still not late to put an end
to the war. There are more crucial and urgent tasks for Indonesia
as a huge nation, and GAM as well, to do than merely being lured
to try new and modern weapons and letting the "de-Balkanization"
wave, which hit the former Yugoslavia and the former Soviet
Union, sweep over Indonesia's archipelagic territory.