Jakarta – Aceh has almost become the “forgotten” war. Because of this, Acehnese students believe that is necessary to hold demonstrations in Jakarta to remind people of the issue. Yesterday, at the Hotel Indonesia roundabout, scores of Acehnese activists demonstrated over the fate of several recently arrested colleagues.
The activists said that no less than 10 Acehnese activists had experienced a series of violent incidents, from arrests to beatings and abductions. The physical torture they endured was not in relation to criminal activities but because the activists have been vocal in speaking out about human rights violations which have occurred in Aceh.
It is not just Acehnese activists in Aceh who have become the targets of this repression, but also those who are living outside of Aceh. “The case of Muhammad MTA [Muhammad bin Toyib, 26] is an example. [Muhammad], an activist from the Student Association Against the Military [Himpunan Mahasiswa Antimiliter, HANTAM] and the Solidarity Movement for the People of Aceh [Solidaritas Gerakan untuk Rakyat Aceh, SEGERA) was arrested in Bandung, yesterday afternoon”, explained Ari Ariyanto, spokesperson for the Aceh People’s Association (Ikatan Rakyat Aceh, Ikara). According to Ariyanto, Muhammad was arrested on charges of separatism and is now being held in Bandung (West Java).
To highlight their protests, the Ikara activists, most of whom are students, covered their mouths with black scarves. They also carried scores of banners, one of which read “Don’t slander activists as separatists”.
Aside from Muhammad, which other activists who have also been arrested? “Amrizal and Anwar, both activists from SMUR [Student Solidarity for the People, Solidaritas Mahasiswa Untuk Rakyat]. They were arrested by Mobile Brigade [officers] in Lhokseumawe [North Aceh] on February 27”, answered Ariyanto. Likewise, Muklis and Zulfikar. Bother are students from the Ar-Raniry State Institute of Islamic Studies who were arrested in Bireuen, North Aceh. Their whereabouts however are still unknown. “They were both arrested by the Joint Intelligence Task Force (SGI). However, the arrest of the two has still not been admitted to by SGI”, explained Ariyanto.
They are therefore urging the head of the national police to release the Acehnese activists who are still being held and to end the slander against Acehnese activists by calling them separatists. “We also urge Mega-Hamzah [President Megawati Sukarnoputri and Vice-president Hamzah Haz] to end marshal law in Aceh”, added Ariyanto.
When Radar Bandung (Java Post Group) sought conformation on the arrest of Muhammad in Bandung, the head of the West Bandung police, Edi Mulyono, confirmed that Muhammad had been arrested on charges of being the aide to the finance minister of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).
“Although this has been refuted by the suspect, we have evidence”, explained Mulyono. Last night, according to plans, Muhammad was to be transferred to police headquarters [in Jakarta].
From Aceh meanwhile, it was reported that the Aceh emergency military command (PDMD) has said that 1,841 members of GAM are being processed by the Aceh police. On Tuesday, PDMD spokesperson Colonel Ditya Soedarsono, told reporters in Banda Aceh that of these, the cases of as many as 1,414 separatists have already been submitted to the attorney general.
He explained that 1,228 GAM members are currently being processed and their cases are ready to be submitted to the courts. Soedarsono said that the courts had handed down verdicts on as many as 1,012 GAM members who have been tried and proven guilty.
“Leave it up to the will of Hasan1 n to return to the lap of mother earth to develop Aceh in the fold of NKRI2, for the sake of a Serambi Mekah3 which is just, prosperous and blessed by almighty God”, said Soedarsono. (naz/ant) ‘
Notes
1. Hasan, a grandson of Muh. martyred in religious war. Hasan and his brother Husain’s deaths are commemorated on Asyura, the 10th day of Muharram, the Day of Atonement.
2. Negara Kesatuan Republik Indonesia, the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. A term which often used in the context of nationalism and the desire to maintain the integrity of the Indonesian nation.
3. The Gateway of Mecca, Aceh
[Slightly abridged translation by James Balowski.]
