Rights body for GAM recognition
JAKARTA (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights has proposed that the government recognize and initiate a dialog with the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) to reduce tension in the province.
"The national commission has called for recognition of GAM and we have reiterated that position with the President," commission chairman Marzuki Darusman told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.
Marzuki was referring to the commission's meeting with President B.J. Habibie last week to discuss ongoing violence in the province.
Indonesian Military Commander Gen. Wiranto, who has been under mounting criticism for redeploying thousands of troops in Aceh, also was present during the meeting, Marzuki said.
"(The government) has to recognize that GAM is there, it is a fact in the field and rather than fighting against them physically, why doesn't the government engage in a dialog across the negotiating table?" Marzuki said.
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Feisal Tanjung ruled out on Wednesday any efforts to open a dialog with the separatist members.
"He is contradicting the President directly because... the President has decided on a comprehensive political solution to the Aceh problem," Marzuki said, adding that the decision was only taken "after a lengthy debate".
He said that Habibie's decision would serve to "totally abandon (the current stance that) military operations are the only option" to solve the problems in the province.
National Police chief Gen. Roesmanhadi announced on Wednesday that police launched a new offensive to defeat suspected rebels, which would involve about 6,000 local police officers and 5,000 reinforcement troops from Jakarta.
"If the military is not able to hold a dialog with the GAM then they should allow other parties, bodies or agencies or leaders of the Aceh society to conduct a dialog with the GAM," Marzuki said.
Bara Hasibuan of the National Mandate Party (PAN) said on Thursday that the presence of an independent foreign party in the province to act as a mediator was needed because of the overwhelming distrust of the Acehnese for Jakarta.
His statement came as activities in Aceh slowly returned to normal following the mass strike on Wednesday and Thursday protesting military violence in the province.
Witnesses in the provincial capital of Banda Aceh and the North Aceh capital of Lhokseumawe said that shops reopened and public transportation was back in operation.
Meanwhile, the United States expressed deep concern on Thursday about a "rising tide" of violence in the province and said there were "serious and credible" charges of human rights abuses by the military.
"The United States is deeply concerned about the rising tide of violence which has claimed over 100 lives in recent months and dramatically increased tension in the Indonesian province of Aceh," State Department spokesman James Rubin was quoted as saying by Reuters.
"The Indonesian military's campaign to suppress separatist activity and maintain security in the province has raised serious and credible charges of human rights abuses."
In particular, Rubin cited the killing of 41 civilians in the North Aceh village of Krueng Geukueh on May 3 as well as the deaths of from 40 to 70 Acehnese in the West Aceh village of Beutong Ateuh on July 23.
While circumstances in the July 23 incident are still being debated, "the indisputable point is that tragic, extrajudicial killings are on the rise", he was quoted as saying.
Jakarta should also conduct a thorough, immediate and independent investigation into the cases of alleged military abuse, including the May 3 and July 23 incidents, he said.
Meanwhile, the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) said on Friday that at least 82 refugees in Muara Dua district in North Aceh were arrested by security personnel on Thursday morning.
National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Togar Sianipar denied the report, saying that police questioned 40 people in the area following the alleged abduction of Second Lt. Dias, head of Tanah Luas Police subprecinct, earlier on Thursday.
Togar cited witnesses as saying that Dias was abducted by a group of suspected rebels and then taken to Muara Dua.
He said that police made no arrests.
Clashes between troops and rebels have been on the rise in the province in recent months, with at least 211 people killed. The violence has prompted nearly 100,000 people to flee their homes and seek shelter in mosques and school buildings.
The police removed nine Acehnese protesters early Friday from the grounds of the Netherlands Embassy here after a protest lasting more than 36 hours. (anr/byg/emf)