LAKSAMANA.Net, December 15, 2003 07:56 AM
Review - Regions: Back in the War Zone
Laksamana.Net - The death toll in Aceh since President Megawati Sukarnoputri
declared martial law in May is officially put at about 1,600 but is impossible to assess
exact numbers because of the de facto ban on foreign media, while local journalists
are strongly intimidated into what the military describes as "patriotic" reporting.
Better accounting may be on the way with the decision to allow representatives of
major aid organizations to return to Aceh.
The military continue to give daily briefings on the progress of their campaign to crush
separatist rebels from the Free Aceh Movement (GAM). Since the crackdown began,
the military claims to have killed more than 1,000 GAM rebels, while losing only 47
soldiers and 16 police officers. The rebels say most of those killed have been
villagers. Both sides have been accused of human rights abuses.
Provincial military spokesman Ahmad Yani Basuki said Monday (8/12/03) troops had
uncovered an arms cache and a weapons factory in separate locations. Soldiers found
two rifles, seven homemade handguns, a homemade grenade launcher, two air rifles,
and equipment for making guns, ammunition and uniforms at Nisam in North Aceh.
The discovery was made following questioning of a detained member of GAM.
He said troops found a weapons factory the same day at Pantee Cermin in West
Aceh and seized a homemade handgun, gun-making equipment and explosives.
Five suspected rebels were shot dead Wednesday (10/12/03) and two soldiers
wounded, military spokesman Lt. Col. Ahmad Yani Basuki said. Troops also captured
two rebels in eastern Aceh. Five GAM members were killed over the next two days, in
clashes between troops and rebels in three separate places in the districts of North
Aceh and Southwest Aceh. The military failed to identify the rebels and handed over
their bodies to local village people.
Suspected rebels tossed a grenade into a house, killing a man and his three-year-old
daughter and wounding two relatives, while a gunfight elsewhere in the province killed
two rebels and one civilian, a military spokesman said Thursday.
The motive for the attack was unclear and the attackers escaped to a nearby village.
Two more rebels died in a gunfight with troops in a separatist stronghold in the
eastern village of Blang Mee, Basuki said. A civilian was killed in the crossfire.
Positive development
International aid agencies have been allowed to resume operations in war-torn Aceh,
four months after Jakarta banned foreigners from the province for security concerns.
The International Committee of the Red Cross announced Wednesday it had returned
to Aceh on December 5 and the UN confirmed that the World Food Program, World
Health Organization and its Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs or
OCHA have been given permission in the past month to return.
"This is definitely a positive development," said Michael Elmquist, chief of OCHA
Indonesia.
Military spokesman, Lt. Col. Firdaus Komarno, however, denied there had ever been a
formal ban on the agencies and said their absence was due to delays in filling out
paperwork.
"The province remains open for any foreign non-governmental organizations to
continue their activities as long as they meet the conditions of the martial law
administration," Komarno said.
Journalists are prevented from traveling freely in the region, making independent
verification of the death toll and alleged rights abuses difficult.
All foreigners were banned two months after the shooting in June of two German
tourists.
UK challenged over arms sales
On International Human Rights Day on Wednesday (10/12/03), Amnesty International
and Oxfam said they will challenge the British government to sign a proposed
arms-trade treaty which would outlaw the export of weapons likely to be used in
"violations of international human rights or humanitarian law".
The legality of Britain's arms sales to Indonesia and Israel is to be challenged in the
courts on the grounds that they breach stated government policy, according to The
Guardian newspaper.
In an unprecedented action, lawyers for human rights groups will tell the UK high court
that the sales violate the government's criteria for export licenses.
Aguswandi, an Indonesian associated with Indonesian human rights organization
Tapol, is bringing athe case against the Department of Trade and Industry and the
Foreign Office.
"The British government has failed to admit that British weapons were being used in
Aceh and is ignoring human rights violations," Aguswandi said Wednesday, adding
that British-made Hawk jets and Scorpion light tanks had been seen in the province.
The Foreign Office says in its latest human rights report that although the
professionalism of the Indonesian security forces has improved, "serious problems
remain, with allegations of extra judicial killings, disappearances, arbitrary detention,
rape, torture and mistreatment of prisoners."
FBI Back on Papua Case
Four FBI agents are in Papua on a third trip to probe the killing of two Americans in
the province last year that strained ties between Washington and Jakarta.
Police have made no arrests nor named any suspects from the August 31, 2002
incident in which gunmen sprayed bullets at a van carrying teachers from an
international school owned by PT Freeport Indonesia, which runs copper and gold
mines in the Papuan mountains.
Troops have been alleged to have been involved in the attack, in which an Indonesian
was also killed.
The head of the national police criminal investigation department declined to say
whether the agents have questioned soldiers.
"They reached Timika four days ago and want to get more information from there while
they are working under the auspices of our police," General Erwin Mappaseng told
reporters on Monday (8/12/03).
"I don't remember all of the names they want to question but what is clear is that they
seek to collect several testimonies."
Military chief Endriartono Sutarto has said he would not mind if the agents interview
his men.
Guteres' Papua expansion slowed
The pro-integration Red-and-White Defenders Front (FPMP), a group of former East
Timorese militiamen, on Tuesday (9/12/03) postponed its plan to open a branch office
in Papua, following strong objections from local people.
Munawir Yacub, secretary of the organization's branch in Mimika regency, said he
expected that within two or three years, the local people would accept FPMP's
presence in the territory.
Former East Timorese militia leader and head of FPMP Eurico Guteres had flown to
Papua on Tuesday to attend an inauguration ceremony for new FPMP members.
Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Budi Utomo said earlier that police would not allow the
establishment of the organization there if "its presence were to cause disturbances".
A similar militia group called the Red-and-White Task Force, believed to have the
backing of the military (TNI), was established in Papua late in 2001.
The Task Force recruited members from migrant communities, raising concerns that it
could spark conflicts with native Papuans.
Separatist groups have long been campaigning for an independent Papua, and human
rights abuses by security forces have also helped to fuel separatist sentiments.
One of the Papuan leaders Guteres hoped to meet, Tom Beanal, chairman of the
Papua Presidium Council (PDP), said he had no time to waste for meeting Guteres,
as "he has a reputation as a human rights violator in Timor Leste (East Timor)".
"That man once committed gross human rights abuses in Timor Leste when the
people there were fighting for independence in 1999. He misses the land and why
should he come here now and establish such a front?
"Will he again commit similar violence in a movement to maintain integrity of the
country? The FPMP has different goals from the Papuan people, as most of us wish
for independence," said Beanal.
Guteres was convicted by an ad hoc human rights court in Jakarta for his involvement
in the 1999 mayhem in East Timor. The court sentenced him to 10 years in prison in
November 2002, but he remains free pending an appeal.
Genocide claims
Yale University issued a report on Wednesday (10/12/03) accusing the Indonesian
government, especially the military, of imposing "conditions of life calculated to bring
about the destruction of West Papuans."
The study claims Indonesia is violating U.N. genocide rules in Papua. The report
alleges security forces have committed crimes against humanity - including rape,
forced relocation, torture and killings - in the province.
The report said the evidence showed that Indonesia had violated the 1948 Convention
on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
"Many of these acts, individually and collectively clearly constitute crimes against
humanity under international law," said the study, which was based on historic and
contemporary evidence and interviews with Indonesians, Papuans and international
experts.
Col. Agus Mulyadi, the military commander for central Papua, rejected the study,
calling its findings "baseless lies".
"These accusations of human rights abuses are not true," he said. "We are only
conducting our duty to keep the country unified. Secessionism is illegal and we are
preventing it from growing."
Worse then ever
Vice director of the human rights group, Elsham, Aloy Renaurin, says the situation is
looking worse than ever with the appointment of Timbul Silaen as the new police chief
and the request from Guteres to set up a militia group.
Both Silaen and Guteres have been accused of severe human rights abuses in East
Timor in 1999 and been indicted by the UN's East Timor's Serious Crimes Unit.
Vice chairman of the Presidium Council, Herman Awon, says the arrival of Guteres is
a clear sign that the government is trying to create trouble amongst the Papuans and
break their unity.
Awon says he expects Guteres to work closely with the local military and police to
"instill a climate of fear and confusion".
There is also tension over the move under Presidential Instruction No.1/2003 in
January of this year to divide West Papua into three provinces This decision
contradicts Law No.21/2001 on special autonomy for Papua, particularly Article 76
which states that any policy affecting Papuans must be approved by the Papuan
People's Assembly (MRP).
Maluku Separatist Leader Absconds
Maluku separatist leader Alex Manuputty, sentenced to three years in prison in
absentia on January 28, 2003 for plotting rebellion, has left Maluku province for the
United States, according to the provincial governor.
Manuputty, chairman of the separatist Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM), remained free
after he appealed the verdict, as the North Jakarta District Court did not order his
immediate imprisonment.
The group wants the government to allow a referendum on self-determination like a
U.N.-supervised plebiscite held in East Timor in 1999.
Maluku Governor Karel Ralahalu slammed the failure of the authorities to prevent
Manuputty from leaving the country especially as he was found guilty of "an act of
subversion aimed at dividing the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia".
Manuputty, 55 and Semmy Waileruny, 45, were arrested in Ambon on April 17, 2002
after encouraging followers of the small and poorly supported FKM to hoist banned
separatist flags. Prosecutors had sought five-year sentences for the pair
Ralahalu warned of "new trouble" should no stern action be taken against Manuputty.
"This is what we are concerned about. Therefore, we ask the central government to
pay attention to it. Never allow a new conflict to happen in Maluku," he said on
Wednesday in Ambon.
Ralahalu urged Jakarta to extradite Manuputty to force him to face legal process.
More Fighting Between Police, Military
Military (TNI) personnel and police officers clashed on Tuesday (10/12/03) in Wanawa,
West Kalimantan, leaving one soldier dead, one badly hurt and two police officers
severely wounded, just a week after a similar incident in Palopo, South Sulawesi.
The incident began when a bus hit a soldier. Fearing a revenge attack from other
soldiers, the bus driver sought protection at a nearby police station.
Soon afterwards, several soldiers came to the station and asked the policeman on
duty, Second Brig. Nanang Jatmika, to hand over the bus driver, who had been sent to
another district police station. Unable to find the bus driver at the station and unhappy
with the reception they received, the soldiers beat up the policeman, inflicting serious
injuries.
The soldiers then left for Mempawah District police station to seek the driver, but were
unable to find him there either. They then went to Pontianak police station, where one
of them fired his gun, severely injuring Second Brig. Uray Tery.
They then came to a sub district police station in Mempawah, where police and the
soldiers engaged in a brief exchange of fire. One soldier, Second Sgt. Triyono, was
killed in the incident.
"The situation calmed after a meeting between Kalimantan military chief Maj. Gen.
Hery Cahyana and West Kalimantan Police chief Insp. Gen. Iwan Pandjiwinata," said
National Police deputy public relations chief Brig. Gen. Soenarko.
He also said that no one had yet been declared a suspect but both security forces
would investigate the incident.
"The first priority is to bring the situation under control. When it cools down, we can
start investigating," said Soenarko.
The shootout was the latest of many clashes that have occurred between the two
security forces since the police force was separated from the military in 1999.
Clashes are often triggered by disputes over protection rackets independently
operated by soldiers and police.
Ministry of Defense Director-General for Defense Strategy Maj. Gen. Sudrajat said the
recurring incidents were caused by the separation of the TNI and the Police.
Previously they were under one command.
More Seats for Regions
Deputy chairman of House Commission II for domestic and legal affairs Ferry
Mursyidan Baldan said after a meeting with General Elections Commission (KPU)
members on Tuesday (9/12/03) that lawmakers have agreed to amend the new Law
No. 12/2003 on elections.
Protests from the provinces to KPU over the unfair allocation of House seats have
been successful, and seats in the House of Representatives will be increased to 556
from 550.
The amendment, allowed under a House internal rules that allows for amendments to
be made to an existing law without a special committee, is expected to take place
before the House starts its recess on December 19, so as not to adversely affect the
KPU's preparations for the election.
The planned revision will be made to Article 47 on the number of House seats and to
the explanatory addendum to Article 48, paragraph 1 (b) on allocation of House seats
to the provinces of Maluku, North Sulawesi and Papua.
Following the amendment, Papua will have three more seats than the ten at present,
Maluku will get two more bringing it to six and North Sulawesi will gain one more seat
from its current six.
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