Kontras accuses military of falsifying Aceh reports

JAKARTA (JP): A human rights group said on Tuesday the military released misleading information about recent unrest in Aceh, including that separatists terrorized residents into fleeing their homes.

The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) dismissed the military's claim that the Free Aceh Movement forced thousands of people in several regencies to become refugees.

"Most of the refugees have left their homes for mosques, schools and other public buildings because of fears from the heavy military presence in their villages," Kontras coordinator Munir told a media conference.

He said that more than 20,000 Acehnese remained in shelters in mosques, schools and other public buildings in Pidie, North Aceh and East Aceh.

Munir acknowledged that thousands of settlers from Java also fled their homes in South Aceh, West Aceh, Pidie, North Aceh and East Aceh following intimidation by groups of unidentified people.

Aceh has been the site of a decade of military operations against the Free Aceh Movement.

The operation, which began in 1989, ended last year amid accusations of widespread human rights violations by the military. The allegations have fueled widespread hatred of Jakarta and the military among the Acehnese.

Since the formal end to the operation, clashes between soldiers and residents, including rebels, have left more than 80 dead since early May. The figure includes 41 civilians who were shot dead by soldiers in North Aceh on May 3.

"It is impossible to resolve the Aceh problem through the use of force. A number of statements trying to justify the presence of more troops in the province must be rejected, including the plan to reestablish a separate military command in Aceh."

Aceh is under the Bukit Barisan Military Command based in the North Sumatra capital of Medan. The provincial legislative council is among the parties which has requested another command in Aceh.

Indonesian Military Commander Gen. Wiranto sent more than 1,200 reinforcement troops to Aceh shortly after the May shootings. Locals said that their presence only fostered fear.

"Since there is no seriousness from the government to settle the Aceh question, we believe that the involvement of certain parties, such as Amnesty International, the Working Group on Torture and Arbitrary Detention and other UN institutions, is needed," Munir said.

Meanwhile, more than 200 houses in a resettlement area in Geumpang district in Pidie were torched by unidentified groups, Antara reported on Monday.

The news agency quoted Pidie Police chief Lt. Col. Sirwandi Laut Tawar as saying that the area was attacked on late Sunday.

It added that four schools also were set on fire. More than 1,000 residents have sought refuge in mosques, schools and government buildings in Geumpang.

Kompas daily reported on Tuesday that two bodies were found Monday near Geumpang. They were two of three men missing for three days after reportedly being taken away by unidentified abductors.

In Central Aceh, residents also found three unidentified bodies with their hands and feet bound in Timang Gajah subdistrict on Monday, the daily said.

North Aceh, East Aceh and Pidie are the regencies worst affected by the antirebel operations and are home to the strongest calls for a referendum on self-determination and a boycott of the June 7 polls.(byg)