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Aceh: Indonesian Military Campaign of terror ignored by the West
by Takver
Wednesday July 16, 2003 at 05:04 PM
The war of terror in Aceh by Indonesia's Military (TNI) is being dutifully ignored by western nations despite reports of human rights abuses.
PRESS RELEASE - Geneva, July 2nd, 2003
Aceh: civilians and civil society paying the price of ongoing conflict
The International Secretariat of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), the world’s largest coalition of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) engaged in the fight against torture, would like to express its deep concern about the ongoing conflict in the province of Aceh, which, to a great extent, is being ignored by the international community. Reports indicate that between 200 and 1000 civilians have died as a result of the new phase of this 26-year old conflict, which began on May 18th, 2003, when Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri declared a state of emergency and imposed martial law in the province. This included closing the Acehnese borders off to all foreign media and humanitarian organisations, and an augmentation of the military and police presence to some 40’000 to 50’000 men, who are now reportedly engaged in committing widespread human rights violations against civilians and members of the nascent and fragile civil society in the country. An estimated 40’000 civilians, mainly thought to be women and children, are reportedly displaced in Aceh, and are without sufficient food, water and medicine, in what can only be described as a serious humanitarian crisis. There are also reports surfacing of the discovery of at least one mass grave in the province.
One example of the scale of the violations being perpetrated is the reported burning down of some 507 schools by unidentified persons in ten districts in Banda Aceh since May 19th, 2003, which has resulted in 70’000 students no longer having a place to study. Some 60 schoolteachers have reportedly been killed in the last four months. Both the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) have blamed each other for the destruction and killings. According to eyewitnesses, the arsonists were wearing plain clothes when then carried out these destructive acts.
According to reports, 30-year old Muhammad Nazar, an activist campaigning for an independence referendum in Aceh province and head of the Aceh Information Center for a Referendum, was sentenced to five years in prison for sedition on Tuesday July 1st, 2003, based on three speeches that he made in January and February 2003, allegedly in support of self-rule and the separatist rebels. This arrest and sentencing is symptomatic of a wider campaign of repression against civilian political activists and represents a crackdown on the freedom of speech in the country. Furthermore, requests for visas from around ten foreign journalists wishing to cover the conflict have been denied. Additionally, foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have been banned from working in the province by the Government in Jakarta, and all local NGOs are to be listed by the military, with several of them having been banned altogether. A number of the members of these organisations have gone into hiding. A list of some 600 names has been drafted, including many of these activists, who are now wanted by the authorities for alleged connection or sympathy with the separatist rebel group - GAM. A number of students have also been arrested as part of this crackdown on alleged GAM supporters.
OMCT notes with concern the ongoing threats to members of the human rights organisations that are established in Aceh and recalls the vital nature of their work in recording and relating violations that occur during this period, notably given the current absence of international organisations in the province. The latest reports indicate that human rights defenders are being subjected to harassment, arrest, torture and face execution for pursuing their activities. For example, on June 28th, 2003, seven plainclothes police officers, thought to be members of the Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob), visited the offices of the Legal Aid Institute – Aceh (LBH-Aceh) in Banda Aceh on two occasions, initially looking for Asiah, the Coordinator of Investigations for human rights organisation Kontras-Aceh, and later for two LBH-Aceh lawyers, Afridal Darmi and Syarifa Murlina. As they could not find them, they kicked the door down and proceeded to throw books around and threatened to come back to the offices later, which they have reportedly not done yet. These events give rise to serious fears for these persons’ personal integrity.
OMCT recalls that members of NGOs have become the victims of forced disappearance and extra-judicial killings in recent weeks, which give credence to the fears mentioned above. Examples include Mr. Abdussalam Muhamad Deli, a member of Human Rights and Legal Aid Post (PB-HAM) who was abducted by plainclothes persons on May 11th and has not been located since, and Mr. Raja Ismail, a member of Peace Brigade International (PBI) who was found dead on May 13th, having allegedly been assassinated for his activities in defence of human rights. More recently, a number of activists have been arrested. These include several members of PB-Ham, who were arrested during a raid on the NGO’s offices on June 8th, 2003, including: Chairman Yusuf Puteh; Miss Nursyamsyiah (who is also the Director of the Acehnese Women Empowerment Organisation of East Aceh); volunteer worker Mr. Marnus; and staff member Miss Nadariah.
Reports indicate that the Indonesian military have threatened the Indonesian National Commission on Human Rights not to publish their findings concerning events in Aceh, and there have been attacks on the offices of several NGOs, including Kontras on May 26th and 27th and PBHI (the Association of Law and Human Rights Advocates) on May 27th.
The harassment, attacks, arrests and killings to which members of the civil society in Aceh are being subjected is of significant concern, as it represents an attempt by the Indonesian authorities to stifle the voice of those dedicated to protecting the rights of civilians and presages a worsening of the abuses that the civilian population face, notably the use of arbitrary arrests and detentions, rape, torture and extra-judicial killings.
OMCT notes that the GAM also stands accused of having committed serious human rights violations, notably killings, unlawful detentions, forced expulsions of Javanese people and of making use of dubious justice systems.
OMCT welcomes the Resolution that was adopted by the European Parliament on June 5th concerning the “Situation in Indonesia, particularly in the Aceh province,” in which the Indonesian authorities are called upon to: return to the negotiating table in order to resolve the current crisis; bring to account those responsible of human rights violations; ensure protection of human rights defenders, releasing those currently being detained; allow the UN Special Representative on Human Rights Defenders to visit; enable humanitarian organisations to deliver aid to the population; and to guarantee the respect for the freedom of religion and the freedom of the press.
The International Secretariat of OMCT calls on the Indonesian authorities to immediately implement the recommendations made in the afore-mentioned resolution. OMCT further urges the Indonesian authorities to guarantee the respect for economic, social and cultural rights in Aceh province and the country as a whole. OMCT would also like to request that the Indonesian Government issue standing invitations to visit the country and its provinces to all of the United Nations human rights mechanisms, notably the Special Rapporteurs on Torture and on Summary Executions, and the Working Groups on Arbitrary Detention and on Force Disappearances. Finally, OMCT calls on President Megawati Sukarnoputri to order an end to the state of emergency and the martial law that accompanies it; and calls on both the Indonesian authorities and the GAM to immediately put a halt to the perpetration of human rights violations and return to the negotiating table in order to resolve their differences through dialogue.
For further information, please contact: Michael Anthony - tel: + 41 22 809 49 39, e-mail: ma@omct.org
Original report: http://www.omct.org/displaydocument.asp?DocType=Press&Index=3375&Language=EN
Related:
3 July 2003: Indonesia (Aceh): attack against the office of the Legal Aid Institution
http://www.omct.org/displaydocument.asp?DocType=OBSAppeal&Index=3384&Language=EN
On the 5th July Kontras Aceh sent a report on first month Martial Law in Aceh. Kontras is the Commission for Involuntary Disappearances and Victims of Violence, a NGO, which has been outspoken against military abuse of power.
Recapitulation violence against civilians after month martial law in Aceh
(19 May to 18 June 2003)
District
Kind of cases
Total
Killed
tortured
Arbitrary arrest/detention
Force disappeared
East Aceh
35
9
18
4
66
North Aceh
35
41
10
2
88
Pidie
7
7
8
0
22
Jeumpa Aceh
36
24
7
4
71
South Aceh
12
3
0
1
16
West Aceh
3
10
0
2
15
Great Aceh
31
2
6
0
39
Central Aceh
8
0
0
1
9
Banda Aceh
9
5
1
1
16
Aceh Singkil
0
0
0
0
0
South East Aceh
0
0
0
0
0
Sabang
0
0
0
0
0
Total
176
101
50
15
342
Sources; Kontras Aceh’s Investigation, Media Serambi Indonesia, Waspada, Koran Tempo.
342 Civilian in Aceh became victims of Violence after One-Month Martial Law in Aceh
Military emergency or martial law was declared by President Megawati through Keppres (Precident decree) No.28/2003 declared on 19th of May 2003. 50,000 troops were deployed to Aceh, including Indonesian army (including special unit of Indonesian armed forces or Kopassus and strategic command of Indonesian armed force), Indonesian air force, Indonesian Navy (marines) and special force unit of Indonesian Police (Brimob) and supported by the number of tanks, fighter jets, and others. After a month martial law, whether quantities or qualities, violence and victims of violence have rapidly increased rather than before martial law declared. From 19th of May to 18th of June 2003, 342 civilians became victims of violence and those are confirmed data (see at recapitulation table).
176 civilians killed (summary, extra judicial killing and/or execution), 101 civilians tortured and/or ill treatment, 50 civilians captured (arbitrary arrest and detention), and 15 civilians were forced disappearances. Based on facts, military emergency has created the general situation in Aceh is moving from bad to worst
The data provided by Military, 204 Members of Free Aceh Movement were killed and 112 were arrested, those information were not verified independently. According to human rights organisation, Kontras Aceh, "they need to reinvestigated because those figures were coming from non independent or one side source". Therefore, allegedly they were not only members of free Aceh movement, but including civilians and civilians who suspected as free Aceh movement sympathiser by Indonesian Armed force.
The number of violence against civilians were collected from field, but in some areas have not yet been investigated, because escalate of military repressive is higher rather than the area which covered by us. We do believe, violence against civilians in those areas is higher than the areas that covered by us.
Internally Displaced Peoples (IDP’s)
From 19th of May to 18th of June 2003, numbers of IDP’s have increased to 40,919 in 16 places within 10 districts, they are: a. Aceh Jeumpa district; 16.666 peoples, b. South Aceh; 10.302 peoples; c. Aceh Tamiang; 4,581 peoples; d. East Aceh; 4,099 peoples; e. Pidie; 1,956; f. West Aceh; 1,377+130 peoples; g. Central Aceh; 1,052 pooples; h. Aceh Singkil; 756 peoples. On the next, numbers of IDP’s might be increase, because the pattern of IDP’s in Aceh under martial law follow as:
- The villagers forced by military to displaced to camps that prepared by military.
- In the stronghold of free Aceh movement areas, the villagers have been forced to flee to the forest areas, this is part of military operation strategic on generalising peoples as free Aceh movement.
The IDP’s have been living under poor condition, such as sanitation, food, health and NGOs have not been allowed to accompany IDPs. International humanitarian workers were ordered to leave Aceh and they were not allowed to provide any assistance for IDPs. Government handles IDP’s, but they don’t have enough ability and experiences to do that. Those situations have become worse, because during in IDPs Camps, there are nothing efforts from government to provide alternative education for children. Normally, NGOs who accompanied IDPs before martial declared, they provided alternative education for IDPs, particularly children, such as one NGO who worked for many years with IDP’s situation, Peoples Crisis Centre (PCC-Aceh)
The burning down schools
From 19th May to 18th June 2003, Kontras Aceh has documented, 505 public buildings were burnt down, 428 units elementary schools (SD and MIN), 77 units junior high schools, 15 units senior high schools, 1 unit PUSKESMAS (central of public health buildings in sub district level), 6 units sub - PUSKESMAS and 9 units of village Policlinic (health care places in village level) including, 38 units public vehicles (buses, trucks, liquid cars).
Regarding to this incident, Indonesian military blamed free Aceh movement, but free Aceh movement denied, civil society in Aceh have urged to both sides, whether Indonesia military or Free Aceh movement. Because, whit this situation both sides have to show respectful the Geneva Convention.
The situation of economic of grassroots community
Martial law has affected the economic of grassroots community. Generally, they are living in villages and rural areas. Mostly, they are farmers and fishermen. Because of higher of military operation’s escalate, almost all of villagers’ activity cannot be ran, most of them have leave their farms, whether banned by military or scared become victims of violence as a general situation caused by on going military operation. Meanwhile, selling price of farmers commodities are cheapest because the buyers do not have brave enough to buy it, because of transportation problem but the buying price for basic need are expensive because of limitation of goods supply from other province such as Medan, North Sumatera.
Fishermen, after 50 fishermen were beaten in the sea by marines, while they were working. They have not been able to running their activities as fishermen because intensifying of patrol a long of ocean line in Aceh, such as a long of east - north line (for East Aceh to Aceh besar) and west - south (for west Aceh to south Aceh. The fishermen have been getting fear because, Indonesian marines have suspected them as weapon’s smuggler for free Aceh movement or guerrillas group, therefore they decided to stop their activities. Situation of food crisis in Aceh has become worse, because the lack quantities between demand and supply as one of biggest impact from martial law or military operation.
From the explanation above, Acehnese, particularly grassroots communities have been facing on food crisis and this situation will become worse for next two months because the current situation is more than 80% grassroots economic were collapse. However, civil society groups in Aceh are getting worry for next three to five months, it will be the gab exacerbate social imbalance between grassroots community who mostly involving as farmers, fishermen and small traders and the upper class and middle class who composed by governmental officers including military. This situation was happen in Aceh when military operation zone status 1989 to 1998 and the current situation is worse than that. Corruption will be increase, because civil society groups do not have space to control and monitoring the situation, because they are living under pressure from military operation. Therefore, middle and upper class will have an ideal of standard living.
The situation of social and culture in Aceh during martial law or military operation.
Almost all of places, generally in the rural areas, the villagers are banned to running the activities at the night-time by military. Therefore, there are nothing spaces to expressing the cultural activities because most of them had been done at the night time, and the villagers cannot have interaction each others between one village and other village, because of interaction process are controlled by military as single actor during martial law. Both of those problems are moving to be worse because of media and other publications are controlled by military. The media only given permission to use one source, it is region martial law authority through Military Media Centre.
Accordance to explanation above, whether local societies or national society are facing lack of information, news publication on Aceh are not published objectively and any journalists who covering the situation in Aceh have to be embedded by military and they are living under military pressure as well. Those are giving much influence for public opinion about Aceh in national societies. Because public opinion in national society are coming from military sources, moreover with military interest to win hegemonic and military bargaining position in Indonesia as step to come back for main actor in Indonesia who control on going civilians authority.
Human Rights defenders
After military’s warning pointed to NGOs who work in Aceh, human rights defenders have not able to work in the field, because they are being attacked by military, they cannot doing any monitoring activities regarding human rights situation in Aceh during martial law. However, any law profile human rights defenders who associate with one or two human rights organisations are still working while they have gone into hiding, monitoring cannot be done systematically.
Some of human rights defenders were arrested and disappeared, the latest was Nurai’ni (22 years), she is field co-ordinator of Pidie district who associate with the commission for involuntary disappearances and victims of violence in Aceh, Kontras Aceh, together with her father (Zakaria, 72 years). This is new pattern of violence against human rights defenders in Aceh as a new strategy of military terror. Human rights defenders become more difficult and moving to target any low profile human rights activists. They are being generalised as part of free Aceh movement for men, and inong balee (women military wing of free Aceh movement).
Human rights defenders in Aceh are getting worry regarding to new model of identity card was introduced in Aceh that known as red-white ID card. This is known as Net Policy, the activist in Aceh might be not able to get this ID card, the ID card must be got from military and police office while police and military have the list of names of activists in Aceh.
The Journalist and foreigners restricted in Aceh
On 16th of June 2003, President Megawati introduced President Decree (Keppres) No.43/2003 on Restriction of foreigners, non-government organisations and journalists in Aceh province. Those restrictions are "during martial law in Aceh province, the foreigners cannot visit to Aceh even for tourism purposes and another activities….. (art.1.1)" and non government organisations whether foreign, national and local NGO are not allowed to running any activities that incompatible to the goal of martial law or a long side with military purposes… (art.2.1) and humanitarian assistance from another countries, world agencies and NGO must be co-ordinated by social minister on behalf of central martial law (military emergency)…(art.2.2) and the journalistic works whether run by foreign journalists or corespondent who work for foreign media must be permitted selectively foreign minister …(art.3.1) and national journalists must be permitted by region martial law authority…(art.3.2). Those are restriction codes in Aceh. Regarding to military spokesman in Aceh, "…. For foreign journalist who planning to work in Aceh, first door is foreign minister and second door is military (TNI)"
Other News
14 July 2003: ABC Radio Australia News reports that "Indonesian military officers have started running civil affairs in the parts of Aceh province where separatist rebels have a strong presence."
Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh has officially appointed 13 officers from the army, navy and airforce to "smoothe services to the people and create better security in the region."
The officers have undergone a week of intensive training on administration. They will serve in Pidie, Bireuen, North Aceh, West Aceh and Southwest Aceh, where the conflict between troops and the guerrillas has intensified. Martial law ruler Major General Endang Suwarya told reporters that civilians will take over the posts once the military emergency is over.
15 July 2003: ABC Radio Australia News reports that:
Five former rebel peace negotiators will go on trial in Indonesia's Aceh province next Monday and could face a death sentence if convicted on a charge of terrorism. Prosecutors say the five will face several charges under the penal code and the anti-terrorist law. They will be charged with plotting to separate parts of Indonesia from the rest of the republic, armed resistance against the lawful government and terrorism and could face death for the terrorism charges if convicted.
The government on May 19 launched a huge military operation to crush the Free Aceh Movement, hours after internationally mediated peace talks broke down in Tokyo. The five had been due to join GAM's team in Tokyo but were arrested on their way to the airport. Aceh police freed them as the Tokyo talks began but rearrested them as soon as negotiations broke down. Last week police said at least 71 GAM members would face charges of subversion, which can carry a death sentence.
Check out Tapol, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
tapol.gn.apc.org/home.htm
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