TNI devises new strategy for Aceh under new status

TNI devises new strategy for Aceh under new status

Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta

The Indonesian Military (TNI) has admitted the one-year military
operation in Aceh under martial law failed to live up to earlier
expectations.

TNI spokesman Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said the military
was planning a new strategic field operation after the government
lifted martial law in the war-torn province last week, arguing
that the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) still exists.

"Based on reports from the military authority in Aceh, the
one-year operation has failed to achieve the ultimate target as
GAM still exists. Indeed, we have been able to reduce its
strength to about 40 percent, but the presence of GAM remains a
threat to the Unitary Republic of Indonesia," Sjafrie told The
Jakarta Post on Friday.

He added that the military would also reorganize its
Lhokseumawe-based operation command headquarters. Nevertheless,
he refused to go into detail, saying that military top brass were
still discussing the issue.

TNI, however, would continue a combination of intelligence,
territorial and offensive operations.

When President Megawati Soekarnoputri declared martial law in
Aceh on May 19 last year, the military estimated the number of
GAM members at 5,251 equipped with around 2,000 arms.

As the first six-month phase of martial law expired in
November last year, the military suggested the government extend
the operation, even though they had previously claimed the rebels
would be immediately defeated.

By the end of the second six-month period of martial law, TNI
said some 5,370 suspected GAM members had been killed or arrested
or surrendered since May last year -- about 100 more than the
number it had earlier estimated.

It also said that 1,045 weapons of various types had been
seized from rebels during the one-year operation.

According to Sjafrie, the military has to revise its previous
intelligence reports because "many of the people who have been
arrested or surrendered are GAM sympathizers, and not armed
rebels."

"We only realized it after the one-year operation," Sjafrie
said.

The military would also promote the spirit of struggle among
civilians in Aceh "to eliminate the guerrilla force," he said.

To quell the rebellion in the province, the New Order regime
imposed a military operation between 1989 and 1998, which
resulted in the loss of no less than 10,000 lives, mostly
civilians.

.RM 8.50"

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
TNI's earlier latest report number of latest data on
prediction of schools and schools and buildings
GAM's strength buildings damaged rebuilt
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5,251 2,000 killed 688 schools 282 schools

2,100 arrested 329 buildings 329 buildings

1,276 surrendered
2,000 weapons 1,045 seized
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Source: TNI