Wiranto cites ABRI deaths in Aceh operation

JAKARTA (JP): Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen. Wiranto disclosed on Friday that the nine-year military operation against separatists in Aceh did not result in civilian victims. Of 760 deaths recorded, he said 111 were ABRI members.

In a meeting with a delegation from the National Commission on Human Rights, chaired by President B.J. Habibie, Wiranto said 243 civilians were murdered by the armed rebels. The military, on the other hand, killed 406 rebels.

Wiranto, also minister of defense and security, said ABRI arrested and prosecuted 421 rebels while 514 others surrendered and were returned to their respective communities.

Commission vice chairman Marzuki Darusman said his organization stood by its previous statement that 781 people were murdered during the military operations but quickly added that the figure was still provisional.

"Each of us pointed out the views of our respective institutions, therefore we must still clarify the figures with the commander," Marzuki said after attending the three-hour meeting with the President at the State Guest House.

During the meeting Habibie was accompanied by several other ministers, including Coordinating Minister for Economy, Finance and Industry Ginandjar Kartasasmita, Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid and Minister of Justice Muladi.

Syarwan may well be the most well-informed about Aceh among the ministers because, as a colonel, he was the commander of the Lhokseumawe district command in North Aceh from 1991 to 1992 at the height of the troubles.

The commission members who attended included Charles Himawan, Miriam Budiardjo, Samsudin, Koesparmono Irsan, and Bambang W. Soeharto.

According to Muladi, Wiranto said during the meeting that the situation in Aceh and other provinces should be seen in a complete context.

"There must be a balance. The past problems must be proportionally and objectively understood and not judged by the current situation," Muladi quoted the general as saying.

Wiranto refused to talk to journalists after the meeting.

It was not clear why Wiranto called the separatists GPK (Security Disturbance Movement) in his report because in a visit to Aceh on Aug. 7, he said he had decided to stop using the term.

He also promised then to withdraw combat troops from Aceh, including the Army's Special Force (Kopassus).

The withdrawal was suspended following two days of rioting in Lhokseumawe on Monday and Tuesday. Two people were killed, 12 wounded and five arrested by police, while more than 200 buildings were damaged. The situation in the town has now returned to normal.

Koesparmono, a retired police major general, said the commission's conclusion that 781 victims were murdered in Aceh, was based on forensic examinations and evidence from local human rights organizations.

Wiranto expressed his doubts about the figures last month, saying the human skeletons found in Aceh might be those of victims of the backlash following the communist coup attempt in 1965.

"Forensic doctors told us the age of the skeletons was at the most eight years old," Koesparno argued during the meeting.

"What is important is not only about the number but that human rights cannot be abused under any pretext," Marzuki noted.

Aceh has a particular place in Indonesian history because the Dutch found the province the most difficult to bring under their control.

To show his respect and to apologize to the Acehnese people, the President has expressed his desire to visit the province some time this year despite objections from his advisors about the security situation.

ABRI Chief of General Affairs Lt. Gen. Fachrul Razi stressed on Thursday that the troop withdrawal would soon resume after the situation in the province returned to normal.

"It will later be up to the Acehnese people themselves to handle the situation," Fachrul said. (prb)