TNI in row over Aceh martial law

TNI in row over Aceh martial law

JAKARTA (JP): A barrage of criticism was raised on Thursday in
response to the Indonesian Military and National Police's
proposal to impose limited martial law in Aceh, warning such a
move could lead to further human rights violations.

National Commission on Human Rights chairman Marzuki Darusman
said imposing martial law in Aceh was not "feasible" and should
only be considered as the "very last" alternative.

"I do not see the feasibility of instituting martial law in
Aceh," Marzuki, who was recently appointed Attorney General, told
The Jakarta Post here on Thursday.

"It has been the experience in the past that martial law has
always led to violations of human rights.

"What is now needed is to restore confidence in the central
government and to create multiple layers of dialog with the
Acehnese as a whole, and to openly recognize the Free Aceh
Movement as a precondition to effective negotiations," Marzuki
said.

House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung also denounced
the proposal, saying the Aceh problem could only be resolved
through dialog.

"There is no urgency to impose martial law in Aceh. What we
have to do is just communicate with the people of Aceh and listen
to what their demands are," Akbar said.

National Police chief Gen. Roesmanhadi said on Wednesday he
wanted to impose limited martial law in some areas of the restive
province. He said the police were not prepared to take over from
the combat troops being pulled out of the province and face the
guerrilla warfare tactics of separatists fighters.

Roesmanhadi specifically mentioned the areas of Pidie, North
Aceh, West Aceh and South Aceh.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Subagyo Hadisiswoyo touted the
proposal on Thursday, saying in Medan, North Sumatra, that
martial law was necessary in areas were separatist forces were
active.

Subagyo was speaking after installing Maj. Gen. Affandi as
chief of the Bukit Barisan Military Command overseeing Aceh and
North Sumatra. Affandi replaced Maj. Gen. Abdul Rachman Gaffar.

However the proposal to enforce limited martial law in Aceh
demonstrates the inconsistency of the military and police, and
raises questions about their sincerity to resolve issues through
nonrepressive measures.

Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Adm. Widodo A.S. said a
fortnight ago the "security approach" in Aceh had proven
ineffective and would no longer be used. "Frankly speaking, the
security approach is not the proper way to settle the Aceh
problem," Widodo said on Nov. 3.

This latest proposal has deepened the growing rift between the
military and civilians on how to address unrest in the provinces
following the East Timor debacle.

Amid increasing violence following the September announcement
of the result of the self-determination referendum in the former
Indonesian province, the military pushed through its proposal to
impose martial law in the territory despite the initial rejection
of the Cabinet and House.

Referendum

Earlier in the day, President Abdurrahman Wahid defended his
plan to hold a referendum in Aceh despite opposition from the
House.

"I am myself of the opinion that there must be a referendum in
Aceh," Abdurrahman told a House plenary session without saying
whether the referendum would be for independence or greater
autonomy within Indonesia.

Abdurrahman, however, invited legislators to debate whether a
referendum was an acceptable option.

"If necessary, we should fight; we should debate, as long as
it is done in accordance with the law," Abdurrahman said, adding
that debate was a healthy way to reach positive results.

Abdurrahman said he was still drafting his policy on Aceh and
would not visit the province until the policy had been agreed
upon.

"I still don't know when I will go to Aceh because the policy
has not yet been drafted by the government and other parties," he
said outside the House.

House leaders rejected on Wednesday the idea of an
independence referendum in Aceh, saying it was the government's
task to maintain the integrity of the state.

They also derided Abdurrahman's statement that a referendum in
Aceh could be held within seven months.

Further criticism of Abdurrahman's handling of Aceh came from
political observer Eep Syaefullah Fatah.

He said the President might be oversimplifying the situation
by quickly opting for a referendum without truly understanding
the wider implications.

"I'm afraid Abdurrahman Wahid will repeat the fatal blunder
made by former president B.J. Habibie (in East Timor) in deciding
to grant a referendum as the sole solution for the Acehnese.

"He (Abdurrahman) always sees everything as being simpler than
it is. For example, when he said that those who violated human
rights in Aceh were not TNI personnel but people wearing combat
fatigues," Eep said.

"That statement really hurt the Acehnese," he added.

Separately, some 100 students staged a protest in front of the
Ministry of Defense in Central Jakarta demanding the prosecution
of Army generals, including former president Soeharto, involved
or responsible for rights abuses in Aceh.

The protesters from the University of Indonesia's Student
Executive Body said they supported a referendum in Aceh as long
as it was for greater autonomy within Indonesia.
(02/39/asa/byg/edt/emf)