Government inconsistent in dealing with Aceh issue: GAM
Government inconsistent in dealing with Aceh issue: GAM
Ibnu Mat Noor, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh
The Free Aceh Movement (GAM) is accusing the Indonesian
government of being inconsistent in dealing with the Aceh
conflict.
"On one hand they (government) say that the Aceh problems must
be resolved through negotiation, however, they still use
violence," Abu Arafah, one of GAM commanders, said on Thursday.
Arafah cited the recent complaint by Paya Bakong residents in
the Matangkuli district near the ExxonMobil gas field in North
Aceh.
The people marched to the North Aceh legislature on Tuesday to
complain about military operations being conducted by the
Indonesian military (TNI) and police. The marchers claim they are
living in fear of ongoing military raids in the area.
Arafah also criticized Defense Minister Matori Abdul Djalil's
recent statements on the continuation of the execution of
Presidential Instruction (Inp[res) No. 4/2001 which deals with
the struggle in Aceh.
The statements have reportedly provoked heightened tension in
the restive province.
Matori said in Jakarta on Tuesday that the implementation of
the Inpres would be extended for the next four months, while
Acehnese had earlier urged that the Inpres signed by then-
president Abdurrahman Wahid be voided.
President Megawati Soekarnoputri in July approved the House of
Representatives' (DPR) proposal on the provision of regional
autonomy for Aceh.
Therefore, the extension of the Inpres is viewed by many to be
a setback in the endeavors to settle problems in Aceh.
Arafah blasted Matori's statements, saying that Matori's
comments have provoked GAM's anger.
"(Indonesian) soldiers and policemen still arrest people
randomly, kill them and dump the dead bodies everywhere. Is that
law enforcement?" asked Arafah.
Meanwhile, at least 18 people had been killed in conflicts in
separate areas from Tuesday to Thursday.
Muslim, an Indonesian Red Cross worker in Banda Aceh said he
had just transported three dead bodies, all with gunshot wounds,
to the Zainoel Abidin Hospital. The unidentified dead bodies were
found in the outskirts of the capital Banda Aceh.
On Tuesday and Wednesday eight civilians, six GAM members, and
one TNI soldier were killed. TNI, police, GAM and humanitarian
workers all confirmed the fatalities.
After the Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) conducted raids in
the village of Meesale, about 30 kilometers east of Banda Aceh,
on Wednesday, PMI workers found three dead men with gunshot
wounds.
The spokesman for the Operation for Security Restoration in
Aceh, Comr. Miyanto said that the three were GAM members shot
dead during a gun battle with Brimob members.
"A man named Bahtiar, 22, was arrested by the police after the
clash. A Scorpion gun (brand of an automatic rifle) was also
seized from GAM at that time."
In the district of Idi, East Aceh, about 400 kilometers east
of Banda Aceh, TNI soldiers invaded on Wednesday a remote village
believed to be a GAM hideout. Three Acehnese men were found dead
after the raid.
According to Miyanto the three dead bodies were all GAM
members. "One TNI soldier was shot during the raid, while two
rifles with ammunition were seized from GAM."
In North Aceh, GAM spokesman Sofyan Daud said two civilians
were killed during police raids in the villages around the
ExxonMobil field on Wednesday.
In the regency of Bireuen, around 200 kilometers east of Banda
Aceh, a village head was shot dead by unidentified people. Locals
said that the victim had been dragged out of his home before
being executed in front of the shocked villagers in the district
of Gandapura on early Wednesday.
Additionally, in Blang Naleung Mameh village, about 250
kilometers east of Banda Aceh two dead bodies were found on
Tuesday according to humanitarian workers.
In South Aceh, a member of TNI, Private Bagus was shot dead
during a clash on Tuesday with GAM members in Ujong Pasir
village.
Also on Tuesday, three men identified as Abdullah Syam, 55,
and Razali, 37, Idris Yusuf, 37, were found dead with gunshot
wounds in Bireun regency.