More deaths feared in Aceh unrest
JAKARTA (JP): More deaths are feared following the latest round of Aceh violence early Wednesday which involved some 20,000 people, as the Legal Aid Office in the provincial capital said families had buried 12 civilians.
As of Thursday around 500 people were still searching for missing relatives in fear of their bodies having been thrown into the local Arakondo river, Yakob Hamzah of the Iskandar Muda Legal Aid office said.
The incident took place in the hamlet of Meunasah Blang Idu Cut of Darul Aman subdistrict, Idi Rayeuk.
However, Aceh military chief Johnny Wahab said his subordinates in the East Aceh capital, Langsa, only reported one death at the site located 370 kilometers east of Banda Aceh.
"It has made me very, very disappointed and I am very sorry for the dead," he told The Jakarta Post from Lhokseumawe by phone.
Johnny was asked to confirm the report of the lawyer who had identified 12 victims.
They were Nurdin, 18, Irwansyah, 22, Rusli, 16, Mukadin, 14, M. Yusuf, 35, Jamaludin, 18, Ali Yusuf, 20, Alamsyah, 35, M. Dahlan, 25, Samsul Kamal, 28, Ali Gamar, 20 and Mustafah, 18.
"All died of gunshot wounds to the head, chest and back," Yacob said, adding that relatives had buried all the victims by Thursday.
He said shots were fired by soldiers who were dispersing a crowd. The people had just attended a gathering where they had been allegedly instigated by Free Aceh activists. The gathering lasted from 8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
From Banda Aceh, D&R quoted the East Aceh administration chief of sociopolitical affairs Salim Sungkar as saying the crowd was 20,000 strong. He said one had died: M. Yusuf, 35, while eight had suffered gunshot wounds.
Federal
Separately Governor Syamsuddin Mahmud was quoted by Antara as saying that he believed the best solution to maintain the integrity of this diverse country was a federal state. Other governors have said they only seek a larger share of the state budget.
"Based on my observations of the country's situation in general, I personally think the solution which would ensure that Indonesia remains as it has been is a federal state," he told the agency at the Sultan Iskandar Muda airport before departing for Jakarta on Thursday.
His argument was that the country had diverse cultures and that a federal state would improve their respective resources.
The fact that Aceh was home to devout Muslims, he said, raised the possibility of the Islamic law being applied. In a federation, he said, Aceh province would maintain good relations with others, given similar historical, political, and cultural backgrounds.
Pancasila, he said, instead of "oneness" or "unity" (kesatuan), stresses "union" (persatuan) meaning the union of elements. Such a decision would have to be reached in the general session of the highest law making body, not a referendum, he said. His statements were not linked with the recent violence.
Official Salim added of the Idi Cut incident that the crowd were shouting "Long live Free Aceh", "Long live Hasan Tiro (renowned separatist leader)", "Kill ABRI and cuak (traitor)" in response to the reportedly provocative speeches given to the gathering.
He said the gathering was heavily guarded by some villagers who were armed with sharp weapons and backed by some "men in black jackets" carrying guns. He did not elaborate on who the black-clad men were.
It was after the impassioned gathering dispersed and crowds were heading in two separate directions that violence broke out following mysterious shots right in front of a post office in Idi Cut, Idi Rayeuk subdistrict's capital town.
The shooting lasted for about 10 minutes until around 30 airborne troopers tried to break up the crowd.
As many as 32 people were detained in a police subprecinct. There were no reports of injuries from among the security forces.
In Langsa, East Aceh military chief Lt. Col. Ilyas told D&R on Thursday that the situation was secure.
"From the past rounds of violence, I think we need an international watch body to come here and conduct a fact-finding mission to see whether genocide really has happened," Yacob said.
Aceh Timur police chief, R. Suminar, could not be reached for further comment on Thursday.
Governor Syamsuddin has said the 1989-1998 military operations in Aceh left 874 civilians dead, 1,148 widows, thousands of orphans, 677 people tortured, 792 missing and 292 disabled.
From late last year through early this year, violence involving civilians and the military has left seven soldiers dead along with a number of civilian fatalities. (aan/anr)