TNI chief offers apology to Acehnese people

TNI chief offers apology to Acehnese people

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto
apologized to the Acehnese people on Friday for what he called
the negative impacts of the war there

Evaluating the two-month old military offensive in Aceh,
Endriartono admitted that the campaign had brought unnecessary
suffering for Acehnese civilians and promised to punish troops
committing violations.

Endriartono, who was accompanied by TNI chief for General
Affairs Lt. Gen. Djamari Chaniago, and TNI chief for Strategic
Intelligence Lt. Gen. M. Luthvie, was particularly referring to
the forced evacuations of tens of thousands of families which,
according to him, had created unnecessary misery for civilians.

Placing Acehnese in makeshift refugee camps for the sake of
military operation "has only prevented them (Acehnese) from
continuing their normal life," he said.

"I do understand that the people there should not suffer from
the military operation in Aceh. With some considerations, we
(TNI) forced people to leave their homes and take refuge while
soldiers tried to root out the rebels who often try to blend with
civilians in their villages.

"Even if the refugees stayed in the camps for three or four
days only, they found their homes looted when they moved back to
their homes. I ask for an apology for that. I don't want people
to sacrifice that much," said Endriartono, admitting that certain
military personnel were caught stealing the people's belongings.

He also vowed to prosecute soldiers who had allegedly been
involved in the looting spree, stressing that "the presence of
soldiers in Aceh is to protect civilians, and not to take
advantage of their suffering."

Endriartono, however, would not reveal how many soldiers had
been questioned in the theft cases.

In an apparent bid to prevent the civilians from being caught
in possible clashes between government troops and members of the
Free Aceh Movement (GAM), thousands of Acehnese were ordered to
flee their homes and stay in makeshift camps since the government
imposed martial law on May 19. Most of the refugees are from
regencies identified as GAM strongholds such as Bireuen and
Pidie.

But complaints have been raised as the camps provided by the
government lacked proper facilities, including clean water and
medical services. Some refugees were stricken with serious
illnesses, but medical staffers failed to provide medicine for
them.

The situation became even worse for them when they found out
that their belongings, including refrigerators, vehicles and
jewelry, had been stolen. Villagers from Juli district in Bireuen
regency who once took refuge at Cot Gapu soccer field were also
victims.

A court martial hearing began on Tuesday in the trial of two
soldiers suspected of theft during raids on the home of a
suspected separatist rebel.

Military prosecutor Maj. Maryanto Bandji accused the pair of
taking Rp 2 million (US$242) in cash and 2.6 grams of gold
jewelry from a home in North Aceh. They face a maximum of seven
years in jail.

Last Saturday a court martial convicted three soldiers for
raping four women, with the heaviest sentence being just three
years and six months. All of these soldiers were also discharged
from military.

In an earlier trial, a military court jailed six soldiers for
between four and five months for beating up civilians at Lawang
village in Bireuen during the operation.

"My operation in Aceh was aimed at winning the hearts and
minds of the Acehnese, so I will not excuse such violations,"
Endriartono said.