Military 'must take responsibility for Aceh killings'

JAKARTA (JP): Leading ulema in Aceh have demanded that the military take responsibility for the May 3 massacre in which at least 40 died in a North Aceh village.

The Indonesian Council of Ulema's Aceh branch, in a letter to President B.J. Habibie, condemned the tragedy and demanded that stern measures be taken against those found guilty, Antara reported.

The religious leaders also reminded Habibie of the promise he made to the Aceh community.

"President B.J. Habibie said at the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque in Banda Aceh on March 26, 1999, that he did not want to see another violent act and bloody incident in Aceh following the liquidation of the military operation status," the letter stated.

While the government has apologized for atrocities during the operation, which lasted from 1989 to last year, residents and observers have said serious efforts to address the impacts, such as rehabilitation of victims, have not been taken.

Reporting from the province capital of Banda Aceh, the agency also quoted the speaker of the legislature as urging that the new battalion sent to Aceh should stress preventive measures.

A battalion of 450 riot troops was sent to Aceh on Friday to restore law and order there.

H.T. Djohan was quoted as saying that if the troops failed to act in a preventive way, there would be "continuous warring" with rioters.

He said he hoped the troops would blend in with people and act decently.

Meanwhile, a separatist leader in Aceh denied charges by the military that the movement was to blame for a massacre in which at least 40 died.

Reuters quoted Tuengku Maulida as saying on Sunday that the Free Aceh movement was not involved at all in the May 3 incident in Krueng Geukueh, 15 kilometers west of the North Aceh capital of Lhokseumawe.

"We had nothing to do with the incident. We are against violence," Maulida said.

The military had said it fired in self-defense after being attacked by Free Aceh rebels. (anr)