House backs moves to use force against separatist movements
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Members of the House of Representatives (DPR) unanimously threw their support behind the Indonesian military on Monday in allowing it to flex its muscles against secessionist movements in the country, particularly the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).
"We fully support moves by the TNI to take resolute action against separatist movements in Indonesia, especially GAM," House Commission I chairman Ibrahim Ambong said at the conclusion of a hearing with Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto here on Monday.
Commission I, which is in charge of political, security and foreign affairs, also endorsed a proposal by the TNI to increase the budget allocation for defense and efforts to improve the welfare of military personnel.
During the hearing, Endriartono repeatedly stressed that efforts to destroy the unitary state of Indonesia must be firmly quelled, with military force if necessary.
According to the four-star general, separatist groups such as GAM should be seen as an enemy not only by the military, but also by civilians including legislators, so that the "TNI can carry out its duties without any fear of allegations of human rights violations".
"As long as civilian (politicians), I mean all of you honorable legislators, do not support us in dealing with these rebellions, we (the TNI) can never do anything to crush them," he said.
"All we need is a political decision ordering us to mount it (the military operation)," Endriartono said.
During the hearing, Endriartono was accompanied by, among others, Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Bernard Kent Sondakh, Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff Vice Air Marshall Alimunsiri Rape, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu, TNI General Affairs chief Lt. Gen. Djamari Chaniago, and Strategic Intelligence Strategic Agency (Bais) chief Vice Air Marshall Ian Santoso PK.
"We support the ongoing peace talks between the government and a number of Acehnese representatives, but this process has also been used by GAM to consolidate," Endriartono said referring to a series of peace talks sponsored by the Switzerland-based non- governmental organization The Henry Dunant Centre.
Since Endriartono was installed as TNI chief replacing Adm. Widodo AS, he has consistently urged the crushing of any struggles against the legitimate government by military means, arguing that the government had been patient enough in dealing with rebellions.
During the 32 years of the New Order regime, former president Soeharto conducted several such military operations in attempting to crush separatist movements in provinces including Irian Jaya, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam and East Timor.
At the time, thousands of civilians reportedly fell victim to the operations with rape, torture, intimidation and murder by the military reportedly commonplace.
The military approach had been condemned for its failure to answer separatist demands in the country, particularly after Indonesia's former 27th province, East Timor, got its independence through a United Nations-sponsored vote of self- determination.
The TNI has also been blamed for committing gross human rights violations during its military operations. Some of its officers are currently on trial before the Human Rights Tribunal.