Khairul, Banda Aceh – The head of the Pidie regional military command (Kodim), Infantry Lieutenant Rochim Siregar, has been forcing all village heads to come to the Kodim headquarters with the aim of making them sign a document supporting an extension of martial law in Aceh. It they fail to attend without a clear reason, action is taken against them. Free Aceh Movement (GAM) spokesperson for the Pidie sub-district, Anwar Husen, told Fpdra.com that this is an indication that the TNI (armed forces) has failed to eliminate GAM in Aceh.

During the one year of martial law the TNI has not been made any significant progress so they are now forced make it appear as if it is the public who is asking for an extension to martial law though demonstrations and getting village heads to sign documents of support. Furthermore said Husen, this represents efforts by the TNI to legitimise launching its operations in Aceh.

This a political game by the TNI which finding itself at odds with the civilian administration in Jakarta, so that the TNI needs fake legitimisation from the people to continue its genocide in Aceh said Husen. As well as coercing the people to support an extension the TNI is also forcing the civilian government in Aceh to go along with or to submit to all kinds of policies by the emergency military command (PDMD), and this represents the interests of specific civilian politicians who are thirsting for power for the sake of power and are prepared to sacrifice the Acehnese people continued Husen.

According to Habiburrahman, from the People’s Lawyers Union (Serikat Pengacara Rakyat, SPR), the conflict between the political elite as the end of one year of martial law in Aceh approaches is increasingly tangible, particularly over cases of corruption by civilians while corruption by the PDMD are ignored completely.

[Translated by James Balowski.]