LAKSAMANA.Net, May 16, 2004 11:58 PM
Review - Regions: Aceh Martial Law Lifted
Laksamana.Net - In a move which had earlier been recommended by the House of
Representatives (DPR), a cabinet meeting decided on Thursday (13/5/04) to revoke
martial law status in Aceh and replace it with a state of civil emergency.
The change will come into effect on May 19, exactly a year after Jakarta imposed
martial law in the province for a six-month period, then later extended it for another six
months.
Around 40,000 military and police personnel have been deployed to hunt down some
5,000 suspected Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels. TNI chief Gen. Endriartono
Sutarto had earlier claimed that about 2,000 rebels have been killed during the
year-long campaign, though human rights groups insist most of the dead were
innocent villagers caught up in army operations.
Under the new status, civilian leaders will be assisted by military leaders to oversee
the province. Interim Coordinating Minister for Politics and Security Affairs Lt. Gen.
(ret) Hari Sabarno said, however, the integrated operation would continue in
particularly troublesome areas of the province.
"The Indonesian Military (TNI) and police will stay there because it is demanded by
the people," Sabarno claimed.
London-based Amnesty International earlier called on Jakarta to end martial law in
Aceh and to launch an independent investigation into the "dramatic" increase in
human rights violations in the war-torn province.
Separately, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirajuda said Tuesday that the
Stockholm Prosecutor's Office would examine Hasan Tiro, founder and leader of
GAM, over his alleged involvement with the separatist movement.
In Sweden, the self-proclaimed prime minister of the State of Aceh, Malik Mahmud,
slammed Jakarta's decision to downgrade the emergency status in Aceh, said the
move was designed only to hide the military's failures.
"The change is merely a window dressing exercise to hide the dismal failure of the
military to perform its duty, other than carrying out indiscriminate killing of thousands
of civilians, kidnapping, rapes and other gross violations of human rights," Mahmud
said in a message faxed to Agence France-Presse.
"There is no intention whatsoever on the part of the Indonesian government, military or
civilian, to try to find a peaceful solution to the conflict," the statement said. Mahmud
said GAM remained willing to return to negotiations.
The killing continued during the week. Troops shot dead two rebels during armed
contacts in the districts of Pidie, Aceh Jaya and West Aceh on Thursday, local
military spokesman, Lt Col Asep Sapari said.
26 released
GAM rebels handed over 22 hostages to the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) Saturday
(15/5/04) in the remote subdistrict of Peudawa in East Aceh, about 70 kilometers
west of the regency capital of Langsa, and a further four on Sunday, including RCTI
cameraman Fery Santoro, in Lhok Jue, East Aceh.
GAM East Aceh operations commander Ishak Daud led a ceremony to hand over the
first 22 captives to PMI officials, which was witnessed by the International Committee
of the Red Cross (ICRC), officials, medical workers and dozens of journalists.
GAM spokesman Teuku Cut Kafrawi said the rebels had intended to release Santoro
with the group of 22, but his escorts changed their minds when they became worried
after seeing soldiers in the distance while going to a release point.
Secretary of the Office of the Coordinating Ministry for Security and Politics Sudi
Silalahi said Fery and the three other civilians were handed over to the International
Red Cross Council on Sunday afternoon. All healthy and well, he said.
GAM is currently holding hostage close to two hundred civilians. The guerrillas initially
planned to release the captives, including Santoro, on Thursday, but delayed the
release for several days due to "technical reasons".
Asked whether the Armed Forces (TNI) would hold a dialogue with GAM if there was a
deadlock, Army chief Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu said "dialogue is acceptable, but the
release of the civilians is more important". He assured the public that his troops in
Lhokseumawe, North Aceh, would not hold an offensive operation ahead of the
release.
GAM rebels accused the military of deploying more troops and surrounding a
plantation in Pidie Rayeuk district, East Aceh, an area where the rebels had planned
to free the captives.
Ishak Daud, the GAM commander overseeing the Peurelak area in Eastern Aceh,
claimed that the military had failed to reduce their operations in the area and had sent
hundreds more soldiers to East Aceh, making it impossible for Ishak to meet the
Saturday deadline.
From the outset, GAM and the military have been involved in a rigorous debate over
the release of the captives, with GAM earlier demanding a three-day cease-fire. Their
demand was rejected by military top brass.
Poso Gunmen Hunted
Police in Palu said Wednesday (12/5/04) they were continuing to hunt down suspects
blamed for renewed attacks in Poso regency which killed a church leader and injured
another Christian.
Sketches of the suspects have been distributed but the unidentified gunmen's
whereabouts remains unclear.
Central Sulawesi Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Agus Sugianto said police were
also tracking down those who killed Muslims in Buyung Katedo village in Lage
subdistrict a year ago, and suspects who raped a Muslim woman in neighboring Malei
village. "All the perpetrators are being hunted down," he said.
On Thursday police arrested three Christians for having weapons and ammunition. The
three, one of whom belonged to a local Christian gang, were captured during a
door-to-door search in the predominantly Christian town of Tentena, said Poso police
chief Abdi Dharma Sitepu.
Police found 11 homemade rifles, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and
walkie-talkies, he said.
Similar operations have been carried out in Muslim neighborhoods
More Heads Roll in Makassar
A police disciplinary committee dismissed three more officers from their posts on
Monday (10/5/04) for their roles in a recent brutal attack on students at the Indonesian
Muslim University (UMI), Makassar.
The committee also ordered their detention for 12 to 17 days in the custody of the
province's police internal affairs division.
The three fired were deputy Panakkukang precinct chief First Insp. Yeri Santos
Mangiri, East Makassar chief of the guidance and disciplinary unit First Insp. IF
Erwanto and East Makassar chief of service unit Second Insp. Aldi Subartono.
Commissioner Adj. Comr. Machmud Abduh also heard a similar case against former
acting Panakkukang police chief Adj. Comr. SA Parambungan, and ordered him
detained for 12 days for the same disciplinary offense.
The four were punished for their involvement in the May 1 attack on the UMI campus,
which left 65 students injured. The attack was launched after students, who were
protesting the re-emergence of military candidates for the presidency, took a
policeman hostage.
Abduh said the four were proven "legally and convincingly" guilty of breaching
discipline, rules and legislation.
They had not prevented their subordinates from storming the university, which
tarnished the image and honor of the police force, he added.
Given an opportunity to defend themselves during the six-hour hearing, the three broke
down in tears and protested against what they termed unfair treatment over the
brutality.
Parambungan said many other police officers had played a role in the same incident
but remained free as they were not questioned or tried. He did not elaborate.
The same committee is scheduled to hear similar cases against six other
high-ranking police officers over the same attack. No date has been specified.
The committee earlier ordered the detention of 12 other lower ranking police officers
over the incident.
A National Commission for Human Rights (Komnas HAM) team arrived in Makassar
on Tuesday (13/5/04) for a four-day fact-finding mission.
"Preliminary evidence shows strong indications of human rights violations in the
incident," said M.M. Billah, a member of the fact-finding team.
Hours after their arrival, the two met UMI leaders and the student advocacy team for
the incident.
UMI students and their legal team provided evidence such as bullet shells, the
blood-soaked shirts of victims, names and photos of the incident.
The students urged Komnas HAM to ensure that the perpetrators be tried in an ad
hoc human rights court over the incident.
He said the team was gathering evidence to determine whether the campus attack
could be categorized as involving serious human rights abuse.
"That's why we need supporting evidence in the form of statements from eyewitnesses
and victims," Billah told journalists.
During their visit, the fact-finding team will also question police involved in the attack,
in which they beat dozens of students with their bare hands and guns and kicked
them.
Proof Needed on Manuputty
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirajuda said Tuesday (13/5/04) his office was still
awaiting evidence from the police on crimes allegedly committed by Maluku separatist
Alexander Manuputty.
"We need to send evidence of crimes committed by Alex to the US. If we could obtain
this, it would be possible to have Manuputty deported to Indonesia," he said in a
hearing with House of Representatives Commission I for foreign policy and defense.
Manuputty was sentenced to four years imprisonment last year for heading the
Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM), an associated group of the South Maluku Republic
(RMS) rebel group, but was released on appeal. He immediately fled to the US.
According to Wirajuda, it was very unlikely that the US would deport Manuputty
because of his political activities.
Meanwhile, a team of three lawyers defending 12 FKM members charged with treason
protested over the arrest of their clients. The three lawyers made their complaint
during a visit to the National Police Headquarters to submit power of attorney letters.
The 12 suspects are Moses Tuanakotta, Manuputty's wife Olly and daughter Christin,
alleged FKM members Domingus Patiha, Ongeng Kusmani, Ramon Tuapaninaya,
Haris Abner Sahertian, Johan Taehuhu, Johan Markus, Michael Latusinai, Frans
Sineasa and Yacobus Pesiwarisa.
"Our clients should not have been charged with committing treason just because they
displayed RMS flags during the commemoration," said Pascalis, a lawyer for Moses
Tuanakotta, the secretary-general of the FKM, on Tuesday
The Attorney General's Office (AGO) blamed the Supreme Court on Wednesday
(12/5/04) for the disappearance of Manuputty, saying that Supreme Court
administrative officials were late in informing the prosecutors about its rejection of his
appeal.
Attorney General M.A. Rachman told the House of Representatives' Commission II
that the Supreme Court had issued its verdict on October 29, 2003, but his office only
received the notification on November 21.
"He was released from the prison on November 8. Had we known that the Supreme
Court had turned down his appeal, we would have kept him in jail," said Rachman.
Manuputty slipped out of the country before prosecutors could enforce the verdict.
Warrant for Wiranto
The Serious Crimes Unit (SCU) in East Timor issued an arrest warrant Monday
(10/5/04) for retired Gen. Wiranto, the former Defense Minister and commander of the
Indonesian Armed Forces under indictment along with seven others for crimes against
humanity in 1999, according to the United Nations mission in Dili.
"It sends a message that the victims have not been forgotten and that the international
community will not tolerate impunity for those responsible for crimes against
humanity, whoever they are," said Nicholas Koumjian, Deputy General Prosecutor for
Serious Crimes.
According to the SCU, international law holds commanders criminally responsible "if
they knew or had reason to know of the commission of crimes against humanity by
those under their effective control but failed to take reasonable and necessary
measures to prevent the crimes or punish the perpetrators."
An arrest warrant was issued in November for co-defendant Lt. Col. Yayat Sudrajat
while rulings by the Special Panel for Serious Crimes in East Timor are still expected
on applications for six other warrants, the SCU said.
Since 2001 the Special Panel has convicted 50 defendants and acquitted two. Many
have been indicted in connection with the murders or disappearances of 10 East
Timorese staff members for what was then the UN Mission in East Timor (UNAMET).
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda and several members of the House of
Representatives on Tuesday (11/5/04) shrugged off the East Timorese court's decision
to issue an arrest warrant.
"The warrant has no international jurisdiction, including in Indonesia. So why we
should make a fuss about it," Wirayuda said during a hearing with House Commission
I, which oversees security and foreign affairs.
Wirayuda said he had not yet received the official letter from East Timor about the
arrest warrant. He also pointed out that the SCU was not established by the United
Nations.
In Dili, East Timor's prosecutor general, Longuinhos Monteiro, on Tuesday (11/5/04)
slammed "his men" who issued an arrest warrant for Wiranto and demanded changes
in the approach to the case.
Monteiro filed a court motion for a "revision" of the case against Wiranto. "I regret that
arrest warrant," he told a press conference. "My men have opened fire without an
order from me," he said, implying that subordinates acted without authorization.
Montero also reportedly said his trust in the United Nations and in the court's
international staff had diminished.
Aussie Troops to Stay
The UN Security Council is due to consider this week a new mission in East Timor to
replace the existing peacekeeping operation that ends on May 20.
Australia will leave around 100 peacekeeping troops in East Timor if the United
Nations extends its mission there.
"Our force size will probably be reduced to about 100," a spokeswoman for Australian
Defense Minister Robert Hill said.
There are still around 1,750 UN troops and military observers in the country, 400 of
them Australian, down from a peak of 5,000 Australian troops in late 1999 when the
country led a multinational peace operation into East Timor.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has suggested keeping a force of 310 soldiers and
an intervention force of 125 police to patrol the border separating East Timor from the
Indonesian province of West Timor, as well as some civilian staff.
Many East Timorese fear the re-emergence of militias. "We haven't seen signs of the
militia for a long time. We don't think that East Timor's challenges are external
security challenge," Hill's spokeswoman said.
"Indonesia is being supportive and helpful. The biggest challenges to East Timor in
terms of security will be law and order. That includes things like customs and border
issues and people movements but not an armed threat."
Separately it was announced that this year the Indonesia National Military
Headquarters plans to build a three battalion-strong TNI Brigade Headquarters (around
3,000 personnel) in the South Central Timor District (TTS).
Bomb Materials at Navy Base
Police at Banyuwangi on the eastern tip of Java are intensifying investigations into two
suspects caught with bomb materials on Friday (14/5/04) at the naval base near the
town.
"We are still investigating why the men gained possession of the potassium chloride,
which can be used for making bombs," Banyuwangi detectives chief Adj. Comr.
Ardian Indra Nurinia said Tuesday (11/5/04).
Navy personnel found "AS", a resident of Banyuwangi, with 250 kilograms of
potassium chloride, which was divided into 10 sacks inside a boat captained by "SR"
of Sumenep, Madura.
Police later seized 5 kilograms of gunpowder and several bomb fuses as evidence.
Ardian said the police were interrogating the two suspects. The suspects told police
the materials had been bought from Pasuruan in East Java, he said.
Serious Clashes at Plane Factory
Four days of violence at the gates of national aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara
Indonesia (PTDI) in Bandung left at least 24 injured.
The clashes involved current and former employees. Most of those injured were
rehired workers. The company laid off all of its 9,600 workers last year after
encountering financial difficulties, but rehired 3,200 of them this year.
Sacked workers blockaded the gates after PTDI directors failed to attend talks twice
in the West Java manpower and transmigration office for further negotiations to settle
the dispute.
Company directors blamed the inaction of the Bandung Police for the prolonged
violence. The management claimed to have asked the police for help to protect the
company.
However, police said they had refrained from intervening to avoid meddling in an
internal labor dispute within the company.
On Wednesday (12/5/04), the FKK labor union reported two Navy personnel to the
Siliwangi military police office for allegedly beating and kicking two dismissed
protesters.
Some 1,000 FKK members have blockaded several gates of the company for the past
two weeks to put pressure on the management to pay their salaries or rehire them.
They claim they have not been paid since January because the company's president
wrongly considered them dismissed.
The company hopes to sign several contracts, worth $300 million, by the end of the
year. These are orders for maritime surveillance aircraft for South Korea, Malaysia and
Bangladesh.
Batam Hit by Violence
A riot erupted Thursday (16/5/04) when police and public order officers tried to evict
more than 400 squatters in Tanah Longsor, Lubuk Baja sub district of Batam island.
Police shot at least two people and seven others were beaten, while several cars were
burned or damaged during the unrest. The violence forced local traders to close their
stores.
The clashes started after public order officers assisted by police arrived to bulldoze
the shanties. Hundreds of squatters violently resisted the attempt to evict them from
their shacks, which were built on a 10-hectare site belonging to housing developer PT
Cikitsu.
Police fired shots at the rioters, wounding two of them. Seven others were also
slightly injured in the clash.
SCTV and Metro TV cameramen said they tried to flee the violence in their cars, but
the enraged rioters stoned their vehicles.
The riot ended when Batam legislative council speaker Soeryo Respationo persuaded
representatives of the squatters to restart negotiations at the council building in
Batam Center.
The meeting decided to delay indefinitely the planned eviction of the squatters. The
security situation returned to normal in the afternoon.
Barelang deputy police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Heru Winarko said at least two suspects
were being questioned for allegedly inciting the unrest.
Medan Heat Wave Causes Fires
The Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG) station at Polonia Airport, Medan,
said Wednesday (12/5/04) that satellite imagery had shown a rise in air temperatures
had caused fires in 28 plantation areas in Asahan and Labuhan Batu regencies.
Head of the agency Firman said the possibility of more fires in plantation areas would
be imminent if the temperature in North Sumatra continued to increase. Extensive
fires in plantation areas usually occurred during the dry season, he said.
Medan BMG reported that the greatest number of hot spots recorded was in 2001,
when more than 500 plantation areas were set alight, causing heavy smoke to envelop
North Sumatra and beyond, extending to neighboring countries and disrupting land,
sea and air traffic.
This year, to prevent such occurrences, the provincial government has urged
plantation owners and the community not to clear plantation land by burning and has
reminded them to be aware of the dangers of forest fires.
Quake Jolts Sumatra
An earthquake jolted the sea west of Sumatra on Tuesday, the Hong Kong
Observatory reported. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.
The magnitude 6.1 temblor struck at 4:34 p.m. Hong Kong time (0834 GMT), said the
observatory, which monitors seismic activity in the region.
The quake's epicenter was located about 330 kilometers west-northwest of the
provincial capital, Padang, the observatory said.
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