TNI should avoid 'excesses' in Aceh

TNI should avoid 'excesses' in Aceh

JAKARTA (JP): A firm and limited military operation is needed
to restore stability in strife-torn Aceh, "but must be conducted
under certain measures to avoid possible excesses", prominent
political observer Juwono Sudarsono of the University of
Indonesia (UI) said on Friday.

"A military operation is needed in Aceh due to the fact that
the government must adopt a firm policy distinguishing the Free
Aceh Movement (GAM) as a political movement and GAM as a
separatist movement," said the former minister of defense.

"And actually, the policy was established in March following
more than 18 months of intense negotiations," Juwono told The
Jakarta Post on the sidelines of a tribute to the late UI
sociologist Sardjono Jatiman in Jakarta.

Asked whether the Acehnese will have a hard time accepting the
presence of the military and its operation following a history of
bitter experiences with the Indonesian Military (TNI), Juwono
said: "The suspicions (toward the military) have always existed,
but this is a turning point for the TNI, which is being given a
chance to take more stern, measured action."

Juwono, also a former minister of national education, said
that a "measured and cautious limited military operation" is very
important to avoid further chaos or conflict.

"Firm but measured action means that the target is selectively
picked. In this case it is GAM rebels who openly conduct armed
activities," he said.

More than 300 people have been killed in Aceh this year,
mostly civilians trapped in conflicts between rebels and
government troops.

Identification of the target, the troops used to conduct the
operation and other military operation details "will depend on
the on-ground situation in Aceh," Juwono said, adding that the
task of restoring law and order will be conducted by the TNI and
National Police as usual.

"I believe that the Acehnese generally want to give the
government an opportunity to improve the situation in Aceh,
especially in terms of autonomy.

"As for GAM, however, their movements have reached a certain
level that can be considered separatism and, due to the fact that
they have developed an armed movement, the government has no
choice but to take firm action against them," he said.

The TNI headquarters had previously announced that there will
be no exact date revealed about commencement of the limited
military operation in Aceh. Reports, however, suggest that it
already began on March 1.

There are some 30,000 regular and special military personnel
stationed in the disputed province of Aceh.

Local leaders in Aceh, however, have voiced concern and
disapproval toward the planned limited military operation.

"We hope that President Abdurrahman Wahid, as the highest TNI
commander, will cancel the limited military operation in Aceh.

"I believe that Aceh's problems can still be settled through
dialog," local figure Tengku Miswar Sulaiman was quoted by Antara
as saying.

Tengku Miswar was one of the Acehnese figures attending the
session between GAM and Indonesian government envoys in Geneva,
Switzerland, on Feb. 15 and 16.

"This planned military operation will only add to the people's
suffering and it will negate the peace effort," GAM's envoy from
the joint committee on security affairs, Kamaruzamman, said.

Violence continued to rock Aceh on Friday as around 12 gunmen
detonated grenades at the gubernatorial office.

"The assailants fled and there were no casualties reported,"
Cinta Meunasah II operation spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Harunantyo
told the Post by phone from Banda Aceh. (edt)