M. Rizal Maslan, Jakarta – The government may have to withdraw non-organic troops from Aceh as part of an agreement coming out of the negotiations between the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in Helsinki. If this happens, the government must reinforce organic troops in Aceh.

This was conveyed by Lemhannas (National Resilience Institute) Governor Ermaya Suradinata in response to the planned signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Indonesian government and GAM which will include the withdrawal of TNI (armed forces) troops and a permanent end to the conflict.

“[On the] question of the withdrawal of non-organic troops in Aceh, looking at the security situation in Aceh, of course organic troops there [will have to be] reinforced. It is impossible not to reinforce them”, said Suradinata following the closing of a Lemhannas Class of 13 course at the Lemhannas Building on Jalan Kebun Sirih in Central Jakarta on Thursday July 7.

According to Suradinata, organic troops from the sub-district military commands (Koramil), the district military commands (Kodim), the infantry battalions and the military commands below the residency (Korem) must all be reinforced. “But is it enough or not for just organic troops [to maintain security], of course it must be viewed from the indicators. On this matter please ask the chiefs of the TNI and Indonesian police”, he said.

Organic troops must be reinforced in order to create a feeling of security for the Acehnese public because the government has a serious commitment to ensuring that the Acehnese people have a sense of security, peace and are able to go about their work.

“So, in a situation in Aceh where there are still [security] disturbances, it means that the government’s attention [on the issue] will still be a priority there. It doesn’t mean that during the negotiations attention on [creating] a sense of security has been reduced. That is continuing”, said Suradinata.

Suradinata also expressed the view that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice-president Jusuf Kalla have given an extraordinary amount of attention to resolving the Aceh question. “Such as conducting a dialogue. But that dialogue must be [held] within the context of NKRI1”, said Suradinata. (gtp)

Notes:

1. NKRI – Negara Kesatuan Republik Indonesia, the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. A term which is often used in the context of nationalism and the desire to maintain the integrity of the Indonesian nation.

[Translated by James Balowski.]