Families of those killed in Aceh may get compensation
Families of those killed in Aceh may get compensation
Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh
The Deputy Governor of Aceh proposed on Tuesday paying Rp 50
million (US$5,300) compensation to the families of those murdered
in the conflict-ravaged province.
Azwar Abubakar said Rp 500,000 would be paid per month over a
period of 100 months to the families. At least 4,375 people had
been killed as of Sept. 2002.
"We will seek approval from the provincial legislative
council," Azwar said.
He said the proposal was conceived during a seminar on the
development of a new Aceh last December, and after obtaining
input from religious leaders.
According to community and religious leaders in Aceh,
compensation is required to assist reconciliation and a peaceful
solution to the Aceh conflict.
Azwar said all violence and fatalities in Aceh during the past
years could not be blamed solely on the warring secessionist Free
Aceh Movement (GAM) and the Indonesian Military (TNI).
Some of the murders were ordinary crimes committed by
individuals, he said.
"Those who commit murder must receive the death sentence if
the relatives of the victims do not forgive them," he said.
One problem facing the legal system is that in some cases
there is insufficient evidence to charge the suspects. If the
victims' families insist on bringing the case to court, there are
fears that suspects would be freed due to weak cases filed by the
prosecution, he said.
"The safest method to eliminate revenge is by asking for state
help."
Prompted by this conclusion, the Aceh provincial
administration proposed granting compensation to the families of
murder victims, he said. The agreement to grant the compensation
would be enacted in a decree to ensure accountability in
disbursement to the victims' families.
The Aceh provincial administration has already allocated Rp 11
billion from its regional budget for the compensation.
The administration has called on regents and mayors to
identify the casualties.
Records show that leading up to Sept. 2002, the number of
casualties reported from the regions had reached 4,375 people.
Due to limited finances, the families of only 3,400 victims had
received Rp 3 million in compensation.
Azwar said the money would be transferred to bank accounts.
He added there was another list of casualties presented by
non-governmental organizations, whose reports claimed the number
of casualties during and after the implementation of the military
operation status had reached 8,894. The number of missing people
is put at 2,147.
"We will assess the accuracy of this report and we urge
regents and mayors to verify it."
The huge number of casualties reported by the non-governmental
organizations has forced the provincial administration in Aceh to
extend the allocation to Rp 20 billion for compensation to the
victims' families.