ABC AUSTRALIA, 18/12/2003 08:28:40
Indonesian military again accused of killing campaign in Aceh
The Indonesian military has again been accused of a campaign of killings,
kidnappings and beatings of civilians in Aceh.
Acehnese refugees interviewed in Malaysia have told Human Rights Watch of
extrajudicial executions, forced disappearences, beatings and arbitrary arrests,.
"Every Acehnese we interviewed had a story of abuse to tell," said Brad Adams, the
group's executive director for Asia.
"We fear that the abuses we have uncovered against the civilian population may be
just the tip of the iceberg," Mr Adams said.
Last May 19, the military declared martial law and launched an all-out offensive to
crush rebels of the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM), which has been fighting
for independence since 1976.
More than 1,100 guerrillas have been killed since then, according to the military.
Analysts suggest the death toll may include civilians, pointing out that relatively few
weapons have been captured.
18/12/2003 08:28:40 | ABC Radio Australia News
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