'Focus on humanitarian operation'
'Focus on humanitarian operation'
A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The government should not focus only on the military operation
but also simultaneously carry out a humanitarian program as part
of the integrated operation to restore security and order in the
war-torn Aceh, says a military observer.
Rizal Sukma of the Centre for Strategic and International
Studies (CSIS) said the month-long military offensive to crush
the armed rebellion would not achieve its target should no
humanitarian programs be carried out to help the people and
refugees affected by the war.
"The military operation should merely be a part of the
government's integrated efforts to restore security and order in
Aceh," he said during a discussion on the military operation here
on Wednesday.
Rizal, also a senior researcher with the CSIS, said further
that the government should give priority to an operation to
provide humanitarian assistance to the Acehnese people affected
by the war.
Entering the fifth week of the military offensive to crush the
Free Aceh Movement (GAM), the number of people fleeing their
homes has been continuously increasing, with some of the refugees
now facing health problems in the refuge camps both inside and
outside the province. Many other Acehnese have been facing
economic problems as they cannot go about their daily activities
to earn a living.
According to Rizal, the overemphasis on the military side of
the operation could be seen from the frequent attacks on
suspected members of GAM in their strongholds and the forced
removal of civilians to refugee camps.
"But, our past experiences have shown us that military
operations which are not accompanied by humanitarian programs
will not be able to fully overcome separatist problems. We could
be facing the same experience in Aceh," said Rizal, referring to
a previous military operation in the province from 1989 through
1998.
It was a dark time for the Acehnese, with violations of human
rights perpetrated by the military being rampant in the province.
Learning from the this experience, the government should pay
more attention to carrying out humanitarian programs to help
Acehnese suffering from the war, said Rizal.
"The military should be able to win the hearts and minds of
the Acehnese in an attempt to isolate the separatist movement,"
he said.
The proper handling of refugees, the upholding of law and the
bringing about of reconciliation among the conflicting parties in
Aceh, including an amnesty for surrendering rebels, should be
carried out simultaneously with the military operation, he said.
Meanwhile, Hasnan Habib, another military observer, warned
that the alleged human rights abuses in the province could put
the military in a difficult situation after the war and tarnish
its image both at home and overseas.
He said that the TNI should reduce human rights violations as
to the minimum possible and fight "a clean war" so as to win
international understanding and support for the military
offensive.
The former chief of the Indonesian Military's territorial
affairs unit, Lt. Gen. (ret) Agus Widjojo, said that it was too
early to make an evaluation as the military operation was still
going on.
A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The government should not focus only on the military operation
but also simultaneously carry out a humanitarian program as part
of the integrated operation to restore security and order in the
war-torn Aceh, says a military observer.
Rizal Sukma of the Centre for Strategic and International
Studies (CSIS) said the month-long military offensive to crush
the armed rebellion would not achieve its target should no
humanitarian programs be carried out to help the people and
refugees affected by the war.
"The military operation should merely be a part of the
government's integrated efforts to restore security and order in
Aceh," he said during a discussion on the military operation here
on Wednesday.
Rizal, also a senior researcher with the CSIS, said further
that the government should give priority to an operation to
provide humanitarian assistance to the Acehnese people affected
by the war.
Entering the fifth week of the military offensive to crush the
Free Aceh Movement (GAM), the number of people fleeing their
homes has been continuously increasing, with some of the refugees
now facing health problems in the refuge camps both inside and
outside the province. Many other Acehnese have been facing
economic problems as they cannot go about their daily activities
to earn a living.
According to Rizal, the overemphasis on the military side of
the operation could be seen from the frequent attacks on
suspected members of GAM in their strongholds and the forced
removal of civilians to refugee camps.
"But, our past experiences have shown us that military
operations which are not accompanied by humanitarian programs
will not be able to fully overcome separatist problems. We could
be facing the same experience in Aceh," said Rizal, referring to
a previous military operation in the province from 1989 through
1998.
It was a dark time for the Acehnese, with violations of human
rights perpetrated by the military being rampant in the province.
Learning from the this experience, the government should pay
more attention to carrying out humanitarian programs to help
Acehnese suffering from the war, said Rizal.
"The military should be able to win the hearts and minds of
the Acehnese in an attempt to isolate the separatist movement,"
he said.
The proper handling of refugees, the upholding of law and the
bringing about of reconciliation among the conflicting parties in
Aceh, including an amnesty for surrendering rebels, should be
carried out simultaneously with the military operation, he said.
Meanwhile, Hasnan Habib, another military observer, warned
that the alleged human rights abuses in the province could put
the military in a difficult situation after the war and tarnish
its image both at home and overseas.
He said that the TNI should reduce human rights violations as
to the minimum possible and fight "a clean war" so as to win
international understanding and support for the military
offensive.
The former chief of the Indonesian Military's territorial
affairs unit, Lt. Gen. (ret) Agus Widjojo, said that it was too
early to make an evaluation as the military operation was still
going on.