May 2001

Acehnese face threat of mass slaughter

Aceh, a province in northern Sumatra that is struggling for independence from Indonesia, is in a state of war. Clashes between the military and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), combined with government terrorism against the civil population, have resulted in more than 100 deaths each month so far this year. There are now more than 30,000 military plus police and paramilitary groups in a province of 4.3 million people. Declaring a "state of civil order," the government is paving the way for mass slaughter like in East Timor in 1999. Demonstrations against the move have taken place in Jakarta as well as Aceh.

N&L met with Muhammad Saleh of the Central Information for Referendum Aceh (SIRA) while he was in the U.S. asking the international community to pressure Indonesia to stop its human rights abuses and allow a referendum. Here is some of his statement.

SIRA was formed in 1998 with the aim to resolve the conflict in Aceh in a peaceful and comprehensive manner, through a referendum, so the people of Aceh can determine their own future.

We hold as truth that democratic mass civil actions are a right for any society to achieve its lawful aspirations, and we regard acts by those in power against such actions as a political ploy to deny our rights. There have been suppressive actions of the neo-colonialist regime of Indonesia against SIRA activists: arrests, detention, intimidation, kidnapping and murder. The latest raid occurred March 21, when plainclothes police ransacked the office, seized banners and took away eight activists, later released.

Two of us were kidnapped and tortured by the BRIMOB (special para-military mobile police) last September. Thirteen burly men beat us with chairs, pipes, boards, and rifle butts, and slashed us with knives. Then we were taken to police headquarters, where more police punched and kicked us. After 24 hours of interrogation, we were released, due to pressure from many sectors of Aceh and from international human rights NGOs. But we had to stay in the hospital for a week for treatment of our injuries, the pains of which we are still suffering.

SIRA organized a mass rally for all of Aceh, called SIRA RAKAN, last November. Dozens of ordinary people were arrested, detained and tortured during the rally. For days before the rally, soldiers ransacked our office and those of other human rights and referendum activists. They came to capture Muhammad Nazar, chairman of SIRA and coordinator of SIRA RAKAN. The charge was displaying a banner at a mass rally last August that referred to the Indonesian government as "occupying" Aceh.

In order to prevent more violence, Nazar turned himself in. He was tried, convicted and sentenced to ten months in jail.

Shooting without provocation and burning houses and shops as retaliation for attacks by GAM have resulted in 1,113 civilians killed; 10,230 houses and shops were burnt, all located near military or police bases. Military command posts have been set up in almost every village. Plainclothes military units carry out covert actions and "sweepings" everywhere, every day.

Many people leave their villages as soon as soldiers set up a base or there is an armed clash due to the practice of the police and military of going against the villagers whenever they are attacked by GAM. The number of displaced persons has reached over 100,000. Facilities, food and sanitation in displaced persons camps are very inadequate; the state has no programs for them, and their only help comes from private charities gathered by local NGOs. International NGOs left after the torture and execution of several of their workers.

The authorities closely monitor local and international media, and intimidate journalists. Those who speak against government policies are branded as criminals.

The courts in Aceh no longer function because the majority of the offenders are those who are supposed to be enforcing law and order. Judges and prosecutors have simply abandoned their posts. The judicial and administrative branches of government in Aceh have practically all closed down, most of them replaced by GAM. In fact, much of the daily life of the people, from justice, to marriage, trading, property transfer, is being handled by GAM with appropriate taxes paid to its coffers.

We call on Indonesia to withdraw all non-organic security forces from Aceh; to strengthen the Humanitarian Pause (cease-fire) agreements; to accept the United Nations offer to open an office in Aceh; to protect human rights and democracy in accordance with the Indonesian constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; to bring to justice all violators of human rights in an internationally recognized court; and to find a comprehensive, democratic and peaceful solution to the conflict, or let the people of Aceh decide their own future.

We call on the international community and the United Nations to send an investigation team to Aceh; strengthen mediation efforts by assigning an enforcement power; open an office to monitor conditions; pressure Indonesia to stop all violence and charge violators and to implement its commitment to international conventions; provide humanitarian aid; allow the right to self-determination for Aceh.

These points need to be carried out as soon as possible in order to save the Acehnese people from the crisis of humanity that is taking place everywhere in Indonesia.

Contact SIRA at sira_jaringan2000@yahoo.com, muhsals@yahoo.com, or sirareferendum@hotmail.com.