Revival of military command in Aceh risky
Revival of military command in Aceh risky
Ibnu Mat Noor, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh
The government must be extra careful with an Indonesian
Military (TNI) plan to reestablish an Aceh-specific military
command, or else the dialog to settle the lingering conflict in
the province will be disrupted, an Acehnese figure says.
Acehnese Ulemas' Consultative Assembly vice chairman Tengku
Imam Syuja told the The Jakarta Post on Tuesday that the plan
needed thorough study.
"If the reestablishment of an Aceh-specific military command
is considered necessary, dialog between the government and the
separatist group Free Aceh Movement (GAM) must be held before the
decision to reopen a military command is made," Imam said.
"The government has the right to reestablish the special
military command. But a one-sided decision could ruin any efforts
for dialog," he said.
He said the Acehnese civilians had suffered a lot by military
approaches. "GAM is also opposing the plan (to revive the
military command)," he said.
Military operations commander in Aceh Brig. Gen. M. Djali
Yusuf said in Lhokseumawe on Sunday that the TNI was considering
the reestablishment of the Iskandarmuda military command, if
Acehnese people agreed to its resumption.
The TNI leadership wanted to make sure that Acehnese people
gave their full support to the plan.
A member of Aceh (provincial) Legislative Council (DPRD),
Muhammad Nasir Jamil, said that he could understand that the
absence of a special military command in Aceh had contributed to
the growing conflict.
"If Aceh had its own military command, like it did in the
past, it would be easier for the military to coordinate in the
field and curb the clashes," said Nasir, reiterating the
arguments voiced by those behind the plan to reestablish the
military command.
Between the 1950s and the 1980s Aceh had its own military
command named the Iskandarmuda Military command.
The military command was dissolved in the 1980s and the
province of Aceh has since then been under the auspices of the
Bukit Barisan Military Command based in the North Sumatra capital
of Medan.
Nasir said that those proposing the idea wanted to settle the
Aceh conflict peacefully and soon.
"I suggest that the new military command be named Tengku Cik
Di Tiro Military Command, so that the Cik Di Tiro clan would have
a stronger sense of belonging to the military command," he said.
Tengku Cik Di Tiro was an Acehnese independence fighter. One
of the Tiro clan, Hasan Muhammad Tiro declared a self-proclaimed
Independent Aceh on Dec. 4, 1976 in the United States.
All rebellious actions by the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) have
been inspired by his "fighting spirit" against the government.
Nasir said that the support from the Acehnese people would be
crucial to the reestablishment of the special military command.
Recalling the government's plan to revive the Iskandarmuda
Military Command, Nasir said that the plan was foiled following
public protests.
"The office was ready at that time. Invitations for the
ceremony had been circulated. The military command failed to be
reestablished due to the civilians' protests," he said.
"The civilians were still traumatized by the military
approaches conducted by the government at that time," he said.
Tengku Imam Syuja, who is also chairman of Muhammadiyah of the
Aceh Province branch, said that the government must be very
cautious with the plan. "Dialogs are preferable."
--------------------
Eyebox:
Another round of peace talks between the government and GAM is
scheduled to take place in Geneva in January next year. Former
Indonesian foreign affairs minister Ali Alatas is reported to be
leading the Indonesian negotiation team while Zaini Abdullah will
head the GAM delegation.