Soldiers in Aceh battle boredom, homesickness

Soldiers in Aceh battle boredom, homesickness

A'an Suryana
The Jakarta Post
Lhokseumawe, Aceh

For many soldiers tasked to crush separatists in Aceh, watching
TV or VCD films, or hunting birds during their spare time is a
favorite way to kill time and to stave off homesickness for the
first months.

First. Lt. Anan, a soldier of the Baladhika regiment deployed
in Panton Laboh district, North Aceh, could not hide his
excitement when a group of journalists visited the district on
Thursday and had a chat with the soldiers.

Anan, a member of the Army's elite unit Kopassus, who has been
assigned for eleven months in the restive province, told the
journalists that he hoped his commander would allow him to return
home after his 12-month assignment ended next month.

Recalling all his experiences in the district over the last
eleven months, Anan was hopeful of an approval from his superior
to go home, where he hoped he could turn over a new leaf and live
a normal life with his parents, brothers and sisters in his
hometown in Jakarta.

"In month's time I will be leading a normal life. But, I must
prepare myself for the worst, that my assignment in the war zone
may be extended for another year," he told The Jakarta Post.

Many other soldiers shared similar experiences and problems.
Most soldiers deployed in Aceh find themselves easily bored.

It is therefore not surprising then, that a low-ranking
soldier told Army Chief Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu in a recent dialog
with soldiers in Banda Aceh that they needed entertainment to
cope with boredom in the war zone.

Patrolling, launching raids and attacks, guarding posts, or
staying in the military bases has all become a routine job.

Lt. Col. Echsan Sutardji, commander of an infantry battalion
in the remote Idi Rayeuk district in East Aceh said all military
groups under his command in the regency had TV and VCD players.

Another military officer said that the routine nature of the
job not only made the officers feel bored but also killed their
fighting spirit.

Some felt frustrated, while others used their spare time to
exercise and other individual activities to maintain their
fighting spirit.

"The morale of the soldiers is sometimes low following a
tiring operation to hunt separatists and a long deployment in the
region," said the officer whose battalion from Sulawesi would get
its turn for replacement next month.

The soldiers revealed what was most frustrating was the kind
of war they were facing and the difficult terrain.

"Most soldiers are facing an armed rebellion in forests and
swampy areas, territory they are not familiar with, and at the
same time an underground movement amid the people.

"Soldiers are risking their lives since it is difficult to
identify the enemy because rebels are living among civilians or
are hiding in remote and swampy forests," said another soldier
who declined to be identified.

He insisted that his fighting spirit would not die until GAM
gave up and accepted the legitimate government.

Following the deployment of 30,000 soldiers and 10,000 police
personnel for the military offensive on May 19, the military has
shot dead more than 400 rebels and arrested more than 670 others
and 75 percent of the territory of four million people has been
brought under control.

Another group of soldiers taking a bath in a river in the
jungle in Nisam district, for example, was surprised and very
happy when the journalists threw several packs of cigarettes to
them on the river bank. They also waved and made gestures to two
female TV reporters among the journalists.

Interestingly, both military and police personnel use their
uniforms and bring their firearms with them to avoid any
suspicion among themselves and to be ready for any emergency.

It is not surprising to find off-duty soldiers in complete
military attire carrying a gun or rifle on the streets or in
traditional markets.

Soldiers who have been deployed for five years or following
the establishment of the Iskandar Muda Military Command last year
do not experience homesickness because their families are
permitted to stay here with them.