TNI should learn East Timor lesson: Don't abuse human rights
TNI should learn East Timor lesson: Don't abuse human rights
Lela E. Madjiah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Has the Indonesian Military (TNI) learned the lesson from East
Timor? Will it avoid making the same mistakes in Aceh?
These are questions people ask as a joint military crackdown
on separatist rebels is being launched in Aceh. Many fear the
military has not learned the humiliating lesson in Indonesia's
former province of East Timor and risks losing Aceh.
East Timor's vote for independence in 1999 was partly blamed
on human rights abuses by the Indonesian security forces. Despite
the military's pledge for reform, including in the area of human
rights, TNI has yet to prove to the nation and the international
community that it has kept its pledge and will hold members
accountable for any wrongdoing.
The war against separatist rebels in Aceh is a crucial test
ground for the military, for many reasons. First of all, the
government's decision to impose martial law in Aceh has drawn
criticism, if not outright opposition, both from home and abroad.
This lack of full support has put the government at a
delicate, if not dangerous, position: If something goes wrong,
everybody will scramble to blame the government and jeopardize
all efforts to keep Aceh within the fold of the Unitary Republic
of Indonesia.
The ongoing trial of Indonesia's police and military officers,
as well as civilians, over alleged human rights abuses in East
Timor, and the court's decision to acquit most of the defendants,
have caused skepticism over TNI's pledge for reform.
The military is aware of public skepticism and distrust of its
conduct.
"The joint operation to restore security and order in Nanggroe
Aceh Darussalam is a challenge for TNI to perform as professional
soldiers. Any wrong step and failure to follow the procedure will
boomerang," Central Java/Diponegoro Military chief Maj. Gen.
Amirul Isnaini said on Saturday.
In a written statement read by Diponegoro Chief of Staff Brig.
Gen. Salim Mengga before members of Infantry Battalion 405/Surya
Kusuma leaving for Aceh, Amirul ordered his troops to act
professionally.
"TNI is in Aceh to pacify armed Free Aceh Movement (GAM)
rebels, but TNI soldiers must distinguish between those who are
the target of the operation and those who need protection. This
is important because the people and the international community
are watching closely TNI's conduct in Aceh," said Amirul.
Earlier on Friday TNI spokesman Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin
said the TNI was closely monitoring the operation to prevent
troops from violating the law.
"Soldiers who commit violations will be punished accordingly,"
he said at media conference at the TNI headquarters at Cilangkap,
East Jakarta.
As part of efforts to ensure that troops follow the procedures
and respect the law, TNI has sent additional military police to
Aceh to process immediately any violations.
As if to make good on his words, TNI said on Saturday it was
investigating reports its soldiers had killed civilians during a
raid in Bireuen. The probe was sparked by media reports of
killings on Wednesday in a cluster of villages near Bireuen town.
Still, Sjafrie's promise and the presence of additional
military police are no guarantee that everything will go
smoothly, especially since TNI, a conventional force, is dealing
with rebels who, as a nonconventional force, are conducting a
guerrilla war.
History has shown that civilian casualties are unavoidable in
any war, but are especially high in a war between conventional
and nonconventional forces. The war in Iraq is a latest example,
where the U.S. and its allies were unable to avoid civilian
casualties and are facing charges of human rights violations.
While no one seriously believes the U.S. or its allies will be
brought to a human rights court for the alleged abuses, Indonesia
does not enjoy such impunity.
It is therefore a challenge for TNI troops to meet people's
expectations that they perform as professional soldiers who
respect human rights, and for TNI leadership to make sure that
violators are punished.
If not, it would make a mockery of the military uniform.