Truce fails to stop Aceh violence

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Community leaders and observers in strife-torn Aceh have expressed concern over a lack of sanctions against those violating the ongoing humanitarian pause here.

"The joint security committee only functions as an administrator which records violent incidents but does not do anything to deal with them," provincial legislator Munir Azis said.

Munir told a hearing with the joint security committee on Thursday that despite the truce which took effect on June 2, crimes such as extortion, robbery and murder did not stop.

The committee, which includes representatives of the government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), was set up in accordance with the humanitarian pause agreed upon in May.

Bachtiar Nitura, a social scientist from state Syah Kuala University, said that it is too risky for the humanitarian pause to continue without clear punishment for violators.

"So far moral sanctions are the only way of deterrence, but it is practically ineffective considering the chaotic situation here," Bachtiar said.

Otto Syamsuddin Ishak, a sociologist from Banda Aceh, shared Bachtiar's view. "Do not spoil the truce. This is a good chance to settle the dispute so the joint committee better set the ground rules in the right manner," he said.

GAM representatives failed to turn up for the hearing between provincial councilors and members of the joint committee on security and humanitarian affairs held at the legislature building.

One of GAM's representatives, Tengku Nasiruddin bin Ahmad, said he missed the meeting because the invitation did not come from the Henry Dunant Center, which has served as the facilitator of the humanitarian pause.

"We cannot comply with the meeting without Henry Dunant's notice," he said.

At least 44 people have been killed since the signing of a humanitarian accord between Jakarta and GAM on May 12 in Geneva.

The latest casualty was identified as Abdul Hamid, 40, a suspected cuak (military spy), who was found dead with stab wounds in his neck and head in Idi Rayeuk on Wednesday, East Aceh police chief Lt. Col. Abdullah Hayati said on Friday.

Earlier on Thursday, about 800 part-time workers of Exxon-Oil staged a strike in Lhoksukon, North Aceh to demand that the company's management lift their status to full-time employees, as most of them have been working for the company for over 20 years. (50/edt)