Govt likely to intensify military operation in Aceh

The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh

Apparently niggled by the continuing violence in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam province, the government sent a strong signal on Thursday that the military operation in the restive province could be intensified.

Seemingly forgetful of the devastating impact on the Acehnese of 10 years of successive military operations in the province, the government appeared to be saying that the military approach was the most effective way of keeping the country intact.

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Thursday that the government had almost lost hope as regards peace talks with the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM), as violence continued to plague the province.

"We have to explain to the world that enough is enough. The poor security situation in Aceh has been going on for too long," Susilo said after a Cabinet meeting.

"That is why we have asked the Aceh Military Command to take all necessary steps to deal with the actions of these terrorists," the minister said equating GAM with a terrorist movement.

He said that the government was reviewing the peace policy for Aceh and would likely up the security status of the province to a state of civil emergency should the situation continue to worsen.

"The government has the legal basis, as stipulated in the 1945 Constitution, to send in the Indonesian Military (TNI) to deal with the situation should we upgrade the security status," the minister remarked.

In an apparent attempt to share the responsibility for commencing another military operation, Susilo asked the House of Representatives to issue a political recommendation that the province's security status be upgraded.

"The House should provide us with a recommendation so that we have legitimation to start large-scale action in Aceh," he said.

"We do not want the people to put the blame on the military, should we impose a civil emergency in Aceh," the minister remarked.

A persistent low-level separatist campaign in Aceh has been a thorn in the side of the nation ever since the 1970s. Former president Soeharto tried to crush the movement by placing the province under the heel of the military in 1989.

The subsequent 10-year-long military action, accompanied by widespread TNI brutality and human rights abuses, not only destroyed the faith of the Acehnese in the Indonesian government, but also failed to halt the separatist campaign.

After the downfall of Soeharto in 1998, the government tried to change its policy and proposed a dialog with GAM. Jakarta, however, now appears to have tired of this after three years of effort.

Presidential Instruction No. 1/2002, which requires the government to engage in dialog with GAM, expired last month with the government appearing reluctant to extend the policy.

Earlier on Wednesday, President Megawati Soekarnoputri issued a direct order to Iskandar Muda Military Commander Maj. Gen. Djali Yusuf to act resolutely against GAM.

Susilo also said that he would lead a government team to evaluate the situation in Aceh, and would stay in the province for one week. The team would leave for Banda Aceh within the next two weeks.

Meanwhile, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu on Thursday backtracked on what he had said earlier when he had asked the House to provide a legal basis for the "crushing the rebellion without fear of whether other people's rights were affected."

He said on Thursday that: "There is no urgency in imposing an emergency as the security situation in the province is improving." Referring to Megawati's order to take tough measures, he said, "it is enough for the military to pursue its current operations even if an emergency is not imposed in Aceh."

The President's order caused consternation in Aceh with many people in the province asking the government not to become emotional in dealing with GAM.

"Megawati's statement does not provide a solution to the Aceh problem," said Nasir Djamil, a local councillor from the Justice faction.

He said more violence would erupt should the government impose martial law in the province. "The people of Aceh will be the victims," he said.

He called on the government to remain cool-headed and to resist the pressure for further military action.

Head of the Legal Aid Institute in Aceh, Rufriadi, said Megawati's calls for "resolute action" and "the elimination of the separatist movement" could be construed as carte blanche for the TNI to disregard human rights.

He said soldiers might take her order to mean they could do whatever it took, which would only lead to more violence.

"This (Megawati's statement) is very dangerous," he said, while adding that the President should be more careful when speaking to the military.