Habibie Did Not Keep Promise To Aceh
Banda Aceh, Kompas Online
The root of Aceh's problems have not been touched at all. At the debating forums only the effects of the problem have become a major topic. And the results thereof resemble an endless tragedy, effecting in long drawn suffering for its people. All of this because President BJ Habibie did not keep his promise where Aceh is concerned. This opinion was drawn by Aceh NGO figures, Ir. Abdul Gani Nurdin, and Chairman Aceh Coordinating Agency Islam Students Association (Badko HMI), Muhammad Saleh.
Meanwhile the Committee Of Indonesian Mosques (DMI) has appealed to the Islam community to gird financial support for the Aceh refugees through mosques, agencies and state owned companies. PP Chairman in DMI, Drs. H. Kafrawi Ridwan MA said in a press release Tuesday in Jakarta that fund
acquirement was related to the refugee explosion in Aceh which reportedly numbered about 50.000 persons. Aside from that, he said that his party requested immediate cessation of violence and bloodshed at the "verandah of Mecca" (Aceh) from the government.
Kafrawi said, the province of Aceh has made considerable contributions to history. "Therefore, we should not downgrade the commitment of the nation's founders who implied that Aceh epitomizes a major asset in Indonesia's independence," he said.
He hoped that the Aceh question would be solved through a cultural and political approach, save from military actions.
Breach of promise
Abdul Gani and Muhammad Saleh met earlier this week as trouble in Aceh mounted and grew more confused. The impact of this problem is reflected in the endless suffering of its people. Thousands have evacuated to various mosques and Islamic boardingschools to stay away from military strikes on armed groups.
The root of the problem, both of them said, can be found in the longstanding demands of the people to government, like legal action for those who violated human rights (HAM) in Aceh during the military operations in 1989 - 1998, and afterwards.
"That is what basically should have been done," said Muhammad Saleh who also happens to be a member of the Presidential Advisory Team for Aceh.
Other demands covered economy, culture and other major problems. But, human rights issues tops them all.
Gani Nurdin said, he became aware of dissatisfied rumblings about the President's promise when he was in Aceh on March 26. People believe that Habibie has not kept his promise, according to Gani.
For instance, about non-violence against the public on the part of the security forces and his promise about punishment for human rights offenders. Their disappointment has grown into distrust towards the state. That is dangerous, the more so when they later became aware of various offenses after Habibie's visit to Aceh.
This flaw, said Gani, was taken advantage of by a certain group, the Indpendent Aceh Movement (GAM), for instance, which later forced government into launching military actions to suppress an uprising.
"So, we are holding discussions about the effects of the problem, the existence of armed groups. Not about the roots of the problem which calls for a solution," said Gani.
Legal immunity for the military
Military operations are the cause of more negative effects for the people, more so because people are in a trauma about the nine-year military presence, which were labeled as military operations.
People think that the military are legally immune, he said. It is evident in a number of human rights offenses which were never processed despite existing proof. The National Commission of Human Rights recommended the matter to President BJ Habibie, but followup was hopelessly lacking.
Gani as well as Muhammad Saleh agreed that the General Chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Abdurrahman Wahid, had better discussed people's demands with officials in Jakarta instead of coming to Aceh. The problem in Aceh is clear. But, followup from Jakarta has yet to be realised.
Abdurrahman Wahid will be visiting Aceh on July 17-18, although plans are not quite clear yet. (*)
Copyright © Kompas Online, Thursday, 15 July 1999
