`No more security approach in Aceh'
`No more security approach in Aceh'
Nani Farida and Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Pressures are mounting for the government to maintain the peace
deal it signed with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), instead of
reviving its militaristic approach to solving the problems in the
province.
"Even if the chance to adopt a peaceful settlement (in Aceh)
is small, we must go for it," House of Representatives legislator
Sutradara Gintings told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.
He said the demilitarization process under the Cessation of
Hostilities Agreement was to end in July and therefore, it was
too premature to say the peace deal was not working.
"There is still four months left to look into the
implementation of the peace deal before declaring it a failure,"
Sutradara, of the minority Indonesian Nationhood faction, said.
Law enforcement, as well as social and economic justice,
should be implemented simultaneously as part of the government
policy in Aceh, rather than pursuing a militaristic approach, he
said.
"But if GAM continues to proclaim independence and increase
armed resistance against the government, we can say the peace
deal has been broken," he said.
He suggested that the public and media scrutinize the
military's conduct to prevent any human rights violations if the
use of force became unavoidable in Aceh.
The government has repeatedly accused GAM of not complying
with the peace agreement, pointing particularly to the group's
continued campaign for independence and its refusal to lay down
arms as stipulated in the agreement.
Jakarta has filed a formal request for a Joint Council
meeting, a move that could lead to its withdrawal from the
agreement.
Meanwhile, several people in Aceh interviewed by the Post
said they were still traumatized by the militaristic approach
adopted by the government in the past to settle the secessionist
conflict in the resource-rich province.
"I am still traumatized by the past presence of the military
in Aceh. Every day, we saw people die," said Aisyah, a 40-year-
old resident of Cot Krueng village.
"But after the peace deal was signed, Aceh has become safe,
and we do not have to be worry about going outdoors."
Aisyah, a mother of three, is a vendor at Aceh Market, the
largest traditional market in Aceh. Her husband works as a
pedicab driver.
Aisyah said she was happy with the presence of the Joint
Security Committee (JSC) peace monitor in Aceh, as it had helped
to bring peace to the province.
"Since the JSC's arrival in Aceh, there has been no fighting
and we can return home at night, so I'm happy with their being
here," she said.
She hoped the JSC could resolve the problems and maintain
peace in Aceh. "As an ordinary citizen, I support peace," Aisyah
said.
Teungku Abdullah, who lives in Lhamreung village, Aceh Besar
regency, agreed with Aisyah.
"Please, don't restart the military operation. It frightens
me," he said.
Transportation workers also believed that the peace must be
salvaged.
"Trucks and buses have never been set on fire after the JSC
arrived here," a truck driver, Udin, said.
He said he had once participated in a peaceful rally in front
of the JSC office, asking for the elimination of illegal
transportation fees.
"I wonder if there is a protest demanding for the dissolution
of the JSC. Maybe it doesn't come from the people, because we
need the JSC to maintain peace," he said.
Last Sunday, a mob of around 1,500 people attacked and
ransacked the JSC office in Langsa, East Aceh, for what they
called JSC's failure to stop the extortion of Acehnese by GAM.
Last month, a mob also attacked the JSC Takengon office in
South Aceh, and hundreds rallied at the JSC office in Tapaktuan
on Tuesday, demanding that the peace monitors leave the town.
Donor countries have put pressure on both the government and
GAM to stick to the peace agreement, saying that military force
would not bring peace.