TNI sends special team to Aceh
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Military (TNI) has sent a special team of 34 officers to appraise the security situation in Aceh, Antara reported on Thursday.
The team's recommendations would be considered in the formulation of security policies in the troubled province, where at least 41 civilians were killed in the latest military action in Dewantara district, North Aceh, on May 3.
A member of the team, Maj. Gen. Joko Besariman, said the 34 senior and mid-ranking officers were from either the military or the police and were either natives of Aceh or had served there.
"The officers have the moral obligation to participate in finding a solution to Aceh's problems," Joko said.
The involvement of officers native to the province is similar to the strategy used to restore peace in Maluku, where at least 300 have died in communal clashes since January.
Lt. Gen. Fachrul Razi, a native of Aceh and secretary-general of the Ministry of Defense and Security, and also the former military chief for general affairs, heads the fact-finding mission.
The team began their 10-day field survey on Wednesday, and were to interview representatives of the local community and military units, Joko said.
Resentment against the central government, especially the military, has been building up for decades in the predominantly Muslim province.
Anti-separatist military operations -- during which soldiers were accused of rampant human rights violations -- and the small financial benefits the gas-rich province has experienced despite the plundering of its resources have fueled the resentment.
More than 1,000 were orphaned and over 1,000 became widows, Governor Syamsuddin Machmud has said, during the operations from 1989 to 1998. Mass graves were discovered by a fact-finding team under the National Commission on Human Rights, whose members are also investigating the latest violence.
After declaring an end to the operations, Minister of Defense and Security/Indonesian Military Commander Gen. Wiranto has conveyed apologies to the Acehnese, followed by President B.J. Habibie. However Acehnese continue to accuse the government of lacking seriousness in settling grievances caused by the military operations.
Following military raids on May 3, at least 41 civilians were killed and more than 100 injured in North Aceh's Krueng Geukeueh village in Dewantara district.
The military has claimed its members shot in self defense when they were attacked by demonstrators.
However, those killed included unarmed children and women.
The military also blamed the violence on members of the Aceh Merdeka (Free Aceh) movement. The group has been fighting for an Islamic state since the mid 1970s, but a leader has denied it had anything to do with the May 3 incident.
As of Thursday, no arrests had been made related to the incident Antara reported, quoting North Sumatra military chief Maj. Gen. Rachman Gaffar.
Over the past months, the province has also seen mounting demands for a referendum for self-determination.
The news agency reported on Thursday that one of 10 villagers reportedly missing after the Krueng Geukeueh incident has returned unharmed.
Student Uziauddin, secretary of an Aceh student group investigating the violence, identified the returned man as Israyuddin Yusuf, 28, of Utun Geulinggang village.
Israyuddin was reportedly hiding in the forest following the shooting.
As of Thursday, those still missing after the tragedy were identified as Saiful Amri, 15, Razali Ismail, Herry, 19, Marzuki, 27, Basyah Arun, 19, Sopian Nurdin, 17, Usman Razali, 18, Muzakkir alias Sipon and Ranto, 45. (aan)