Legislator hopes wounds from military action can be healed

JAKARTA (JP): A noted legislator said on Saturday during a visit to Aceh that feelings of vengeance caused by the military operations in the province could hopefully be healed.

Antara reported from Banda Aceh that Aisyah Amini, chairwoman of House of Representatives Commission I for political affairs, said the commission welcomed the province's initiative to hold a meeting of various groups in Aceh.

"We welcome the plan... in the hope that all feelings of revenge sparked by the military operations (1989-1998) can be healed," Aisyah told officials here during talks involving six other Commission I members.

The meeting is scheduled for Nov. 5.

Investigations into human rights violations during the nine years of military operations have revealed numerous alleged cases of torture, murder, rape, intimidation and abduction by military personnel and people assisting them.

Rights activists have raised the stigma attached to members and families of those alleged to be insurgent groups charged with trying to set up a separate state, as being among the constraints preventing earlier reports of the extent of people's suffering.

Aisyah acknowledged the violations reported in the Pidie regency, North Aceh and East Aceh.

The National Commission on Human Rights, the Aceh non- governmental organizations' forum and a fact-finding team working with the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), have said hundreds of women were widowed and thousands of children lost one or both parents during the military operations.

The Aceh NGOs Forum estimated at least 1,165 fatalities, a large number of which were buried in mass graves.

Aisyah reiterated that what's most important now was to direct help toward victims, particularly widows and orphans, and also to people whose homes had been set on fire.

Aisyah said her Commission suggested a few years ago that the military operations end in Aceh, following reports of human rights violations there.

Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen. Wiranto has said the violations were perpetrated by a number of military members, which did not reflect ABRI's conduct as a whole. However, he asked forgiveness for the suffering of the Acehnese during the military operations.

"We are grateful that finally in August the military operations ended," Aisyah said.

On the issue of people known as cuak -- who collaborated in military operations -- Aisyah said they should also be brought to trial if proven guilty of any crime.

"If the crime is not proven, they should still apologize if it is said they hurt the people," she said. (anr)