Reports surface of recent rapes in Aceh

Reports surface of recent rapes in Aceh

JAKARTA (JP): A human rights group said on Friday it had
received reports that security personnel had raped a number of
women during the recent anti-separatist operations in Aceh.

"At least seven women between 16 and 30 years of age were
raped in North Aceh in the last three weeks," Munir of the
Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras)
told a media conference.

"We still need to investigate further, but we have received
reports from a number of local non-governmental organizations
saying these acts were committed by security personnel," Munir
said.

Both Lilawangsa Regional Military Commander Col. Syafnil
Armen, who oversees security in North Aceh, East Aceh and Pidie,
and riot troop commander Col. Ridwan Karim could not be
immediately reached for comment on Friday.

The rape reports were given as part of the latest information
on conditions reported by Kontras regarding Aceh, mainly in North
and East Aceh and Pidie.

"The wave of refugees is continuing along with escalating
military operations in various areas," Munir said.

Instead of giving protection to residents, the reported
violence "shows that the strengthening of military operations in
Aceh has not at all reduced fear among residents", he said,
adding that it had achieved the opposite.

Kontras last recorded at least 59,076 refugees in 12 locations
-- including thousands from one district in Pidie.

"All residents of Tangse district have moved out," Kontras'
statement said.

"The Aceh problem will continue as long as the government does
not pull out the troops from the province," Munir said.

As well as the rapes, other "excesses" of the military
operations included torture and abduction, he said.

However, the military has repeatedly stated that the violence,
in which civilians and military members have been killed, was
caused by the Free Aceh Movement.

The military has accused separatist forces of intimidating
residents to boycott the elections, and intimidating migrant
settlers to leave their villages.

Despite strong public criticism, Jakarta sent at least 1,200
reinforcement troops to Aceh days after the military shootings in
the North Aceh village of Krueng Geukueh on May 3, which left at
least 41 civilian protesters dead.

Violence has since then increased in North Aceh, East Aceh and
Pidie, where at least 100 people have been killed. About 400
houses, school buildings and government offices were set on fire
in the attacks and counterattacks between the military and
alleged Free Aceh Movement members.

North Aceh, East Aceh and Pidie regencies have been worst
affected by the anti-rebel operations from 1989 to 1998, and are
the regencies where calls for a referendum on self-determination
and an election boycott have been the strongest.

The National Commission on Human Rights has said that at least
781 people were killed and thousands of others suffered during
the operations.(byg)