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TITLE: Aceh Refugees Double in One Month |
AUTHOR: Khairul ID, Rayhan AL |
PUB: Detikworld |
DATE: January 19, 2001 |
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Medan,The number of refugees fleeing Indonesia's war-torn northern-most province of Aceh has doubled in just one month. The end of the `humanitarian pause' and introduction of a vague cease-fire agreement between the central government and rebels of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) has meant little to ordinary people living in Aceh. Head of the Aceh Refugee Forum (FPA), Edi Gunawan Sirait, said they had recently compiled information from refugee registration schemes and found that the number of new refugees in the neighbouring province of North Sumatra, particularly in the capital Medan and Langkat regency, was well above their expectations. When interviewed by detikworld Thursday (18/1/2001), Edi admitted their figures were by no means complete as the refugees had spread throughout the province and many had not registered. Many had also been forced to return to their home provinces because of the ongoing violence in Aceh. In December 2000 the FPA were aware of 4,951 refugees in North Sumatra. Their latest data indicates 10,972 people are now refugees in North Sumatra"The number of 10,972 people or 2,615 families is actually smaller compared to the Social Service records which recorded up to 14,000," said Edi. Edi highlighted that the refugees badly need to be relocated, under a scheme similar to the local transmigration scheme in the province. Relocation would enable the government and people to address such fundamental problems as jobs and housing, Edi added. While refugees often live in appalling conditions with little money and no way out, the North Sumatra government has paid very little attention to the fate of Aceh's refugees, said Edi. However, lately, local governments have started to provide some aid. In Sei Lepan and Gebang sub-districts in Langkat, for example, the local government gave Rp 36,000 (US $ 3) per person to hundreds of refugees. All refugees are supposed to receive similar amounts of aid from local governments. "Only we don't know how long the aid will continue. (They) don't tell us when the next aid will come," said Edi. In the meantime, government and military officials at subdistrict offices in Medan are continuing to record an influx of refugees. Most arrivals are registered in the Medan Sunggal sub district which borders Aceh province. Information from a number of sources at the district military command indicates that the data is being collected to enable security forces to identify GAM members among the refugees. However, this was rebuffed by Sunggal subdistrict head, Amin Daulay. "No, it's not that at all, it is just routine," said Amin. The Medan Legal Aid Foundation Director Irham Buana Nasution said the model used differentiated between ethnic Acehnese and refugees from other provinces, particularly those settled under past government transmigration schemes who mainly orginate from the island of Java. "I'm not sure. But if it is true, registration using this model is very sensitive to Ethnic, Religious and Race (SARA) issues," he said. Violence Escalates in Aceh Escalating violence and fear of the further breakdown of order has precipitated the outflow of refugees. As many foretold, the end of the `humanitarian pause' on January 15 has seen the reemergence of open fighting between GAM and government forces. The situation has been exacerbated by the absence of a workable agreement to take its place. The two sides had agreed to a hastily negotiated `cease-fire' agreement in Switzerland last week wherein both parties would refrain from violence. However, the Indonesian government and security forces have taken a hard-line on the illegal possession of weapons. Aceh police gave civilians until January 15 to hand over their arms voluntarily. Now, a campaign of `law enforcement' is rapidly precipitating some of the worst confrontations seen in months. As the third day of the `moratorium' began, at least three Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) personnel and six GAM members have been killed. Three TNI personnel were killed in a bomb explosion set up by an armed group in West Aceh. Five GAM members in West Aceh and one in North Aceh were gunned downed by military personnel. All were killed. The TNI and GAM both claim they are doing what is right. "We conduct police operations. It is legal in any country. Police have the obligation to conduct law enforcement operations," said deputy spokesperson of the Cinta Meunasah Operation I/2000, High Comm. Y Suyatmo, to detikworld Thursday.GAM Commander for the Passe area, Abu Sofyan Daud, strongly defended their attack on Indonesian security members because they refuse to tolerate TNI/Police `sweeping' operations through villages in the province. Meanwhile, terrified civilians are fleeing in greater numbers and local and central governments are unprepared to deal with their failure to engage the independence fighters who have fought for their goal since the mid-1970s through non-violent means. END |