Javanese 'milita' village marks pro-Indonesia front line in Aceh

Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post, Central Aceh

Musirah, 50, remembered the day her village fought against the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), when hundreds of armed insurgents besieged the village on June 6, 2001.

The guerrillas had previously attacked and burned down other villages in the districts of Batu, Timang Gajah, Bandar and Syiah Utama.

Hundreds of Central Aceh residents died in the attacks, while thousands more were forced to seek refuge at the regental council's offices and those of the Takengon regent, 30 kilometers from Bukit district.

"We, all the villagers of Pondok Kresek, resolved to defend our village until our very last drops of blood," said Musirah.

They were triumphant. Armed with homemade rifles, machetes, spears and swords, they repulsed the rebels. The struggle lasted for 90 minutes.

The incident only claimed five casualties, among them a two- year-old child named Irma, who died in her mother's arms.

Residents have built a monument at the entrance to Pondok Kresek village, its name now changed to Setia Jadi village, in memory of the fallen victims and to exhort residents to constantly protect their village.

The village, located in Batu district, is unique in Central Aceh regency as 99 percent of its inhabitants are of the Javanese origin.

The Indonesian Military (TNI), whose soldiers are mostly Javanese, will quickly come to the aid of the village if it comes under threat.

The villagers earn their living as vegetable and coffee growers.

"GAM rebels seldom show up here as we would repulse them if they did," said Musirah.

The conflict has not greatly affected the welfare of the villagers. If attacked, residents join together in arms to protect their village. It is the first village in Batu district to have recovered economically.

The fearsome reputation of the villagers in repulsing GAM threats has made outsiders think twice before entering the village, especially indigenous Acehnese.

It is widely rumored that should an Acehnese wander into Pondok Kresek by mistake, he would be quickly put to death.

"It's been four years now since fishmongers from Bireun have had the courage to come to our village," said Musirah.

He claimed the villagers had no problem with the Acehnese. "The problem is with GAM, and not all Acehnese are rebels," he said.

The village is staunchly pro-Indonesia and has strong military ties. In other words, it is a militia village, with most of the villagers armed with homemade firearms.

"We have guns, but we made them ourselves. They were not provided by the Indonesian Military (TNI). We have never been trained by them either," asserted Turmansyah, 44, a resident of the village.

According to Turmansyah, villagers have been producing ammunition and homemade firearms out of bicycle parts.