Extortion of motorists still rampant in troubled Aceh

Extortion of motorists still rampant in troubled Aceh

Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Idi, East Aceh

Yasdi, 40, has abandoned his job as a truck driver because he
can no longer endure the rife extortion by security personnel on
the streets in the province of Aceh.

Sitting relaxed in his coffee shop in Idi, East Aceh, Yasdi,
of Acehnese descent, recalled how local policemen and soldiers
treat motorists and travelers.

"No one on the main roads in the province can avoid the
document check by either police officers or soldiers.

"They check not only our personal and vehicle documents but
also the contents of our pockets and our wallet. We can't refuse
them when they ask for money," he told The Jakarta Post.

Many security personnel are apparently taking advantage of the
tense situation in the restive province by reportedly imposing
illegal levies on motorists and, sometimes, passengers on public
buses.

Security personnel, nevertheless, have denied extorting
motorists and bus passengers, saying that they would only accept
money if drivers and motorists offered it voluntarily for
security reasons.

"We have only asked for a little to buy cigars and (alcohol)
drinks," a police officer, identified as Sgt. Krm, told the Post
at a police checkpoint in Perlak.

However, a number of drivers met by the Post all confirmed
there was widespread extortion by security forces.

Rusli, a pickup driver who supplies fruit to Banda Aceh and
Medan, for instance, revealed that policemen, especially from the
elite Police Mobile Brigade, always demanded a large illegal levy
from motorists.

"Servicemen from the Army and the Navy won't reject being
given between Rp 2,000 (about 20 U.S. cents) and Rp 5,000 or a
pack of cigarettes, but those from the Mobile Brigade frequently
tell off drivers while holding a gun to our head to pay them what
they want.

"Drivers are slapped or beaten with their gun if they pay less
than what they ask for," he told the Post from his residence near
PT Exxonmobil Indonesia's gas field in Lhoksukon, North Aceh.

Policemen at one checkpoint normally ask pickup drivers like
Rusli for about Rp 50,000, he said. They will allegedly charge
higher levies for drivers of bigger vehicles or for vehicles
carrying valuable goods.

"Vans carrying fish or fruit are commonly asked to pay between
Rp 50,000 and Rp 100,000, while trucks and trailers containing
expensive items are asked to pay between Rp 150,000 and Rp
300,000," he said.

Unlike Yasdi who quit his profession, Rusli continues to stick
with his job as a driver although he has had to accept a lower
monthly income.

Before heightened military operations, Rusli said he could
earn about Rp 1.5 million per month, but now he gets about Rp
500,000 per month because a large part of his income goes to
security personnel.

"I don't have any land and I don't have any skills to do
something else. But I must thank God because my wife and children
and I can survive during this difficult time," he said.

He noted that because of the practice, he said he could not
trust any policemen. He said that the police's image had been
ruined in the eyes of the Acehnese.

Razali, a driver in Banda Aceh, concurred and said most locals
hated to come across security personnel when driving anywhere in
the province because of their behavior.

"They come here not to maintain security and order but to get
additional income from the local people's decades of pain."

He said most people's hatred of security personnel did not
stem from the separatist movement but was mainly because of their
behavior.

He said it was irrational and strange for drivers to be
charged between Rp 50,000 and Rp 100,000 if their cars are
stopped at the checkpoint areas along the street.

He said the central government should replace all security
personnel known for bad behavior with those who are dedicated in
seeking local people's trust by guaranteeing their security and
safety.