House backs moves to use force against separatist movements

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.