Military 'must take responsibility for Aceh killings'

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)