On Aceh reporting

On Aceh reporting

I would like to comment on Aboeprijadi Santoso's article
titled Unspoken protest amid prolonged war in Aceh (The Jakarta
Post, July 8).

The article is a typical example of one-sided and unbalanced
reporting. The writer complains that "from students, activists to
civil servants, intellectuals and public figures, people tend to
be either silent, hide or leave their home ... in response to the
war and the consequences of martial law". But he doesn't bother
to mention the fact that it was the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) who
eventually provoked martial law by insisting on their standpoint
that Aceh's independence is a "fixed price" and is therefore an
"absolutely non-negotiable matter".

The writer further deplores the brave young Abdullah, who
"cried because his beloved mother was among thousands of locals
forced to move to the football stadium of Cot Gapu. He could not
take her to the capital as she needed to get a new ID card in her
district". But the writer doesn't waste a word on the fact that
it was GAM who unlawfully collected ID cards from the Acehnese,
especially from the villagers. Those who refused to obey GAM's
orders had to face punishment.

The writer states that "Aceh lacks new leaders" and that "true
leadership can hardly be expected, for neither the corrupt and
unpopular local politicians nor the rebels can provide it, as the
province is under strict military command".

While it is true that the government has failed to improve law
enforcement and people's welfare, the writer does not explain
whether he believes that GAM would offer better leadership. The
rebels have never publicized what kind of government they would
like to establish if Aceh would become independent: A pure
Islamic state, a sultanate or a republic?

And so far they have also made no commitments concerning human
rights, democracy, freedom of science and teaching, equal rights
for women, the right to free and democratic elections and freedom
of the press! The writer doesn't even wonder whether, in the
absence of such commitments, the Acehnese might possibly be worse
off under GAM's rule.

HILDE MAY, Jakarta