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TITLE: Arbitrary Killings Are 'Upholding The Law' In Aceh |
AUTHOR: Is Mujiarso |
PUB: Detikworld |
DATE: January 18, 2001 |
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The government's new tactic of forced disarmament of civilians in Indonesia's war-torn province of Aceh is developing into what many have expected: a license for security personnel to escalate violence. The latest suspect found in the vicinity of a home-made weapon was taken and later found dumped, dead. The Minister of Defense, however, maintains all measures have been voluntary and 'uphold the law'. The Coalition of Aceh Human Rights Non-Government Organisations said that weapons raids are being accompanied by forced abductions in a report released Thursday (18/9/2001). The latest victim, Syukrizal (28), was enjoying coffee with friends at a roadside foodstall in Tiemkem Darul Imarah, Greater Aceh, at midday Wednesday (17/1/2001) when six members of the Mobile Brigade in civilian garb suddenly stormed in. The officers immediately ordered all the occupants to present their identity cards and one officer wearing a face mask threatened that they would be shot if they failed to do so. A home-made pistol was found beneath the seat near Syukrizal. He claimed he knew nothing about the weapon. The officers then reportedly left in a blue Kijang (license BL 273 LA) taking Syukrizal. Before getting in, one of the officers shot him in the foot in front of the terrified people at the stall. At 2 p.m. local time Thursday, the people of Alue Naga village found Syukrizal's terribly mutilated body. He had reportedly been shot in both feet and his left shoulder. His skull had also been shattered by one or more bullets. Syukrizal's friends, Subhan (27), Syamsul Kamar (26), Baharuddin (26), Marzuki (26), Yusri Basri (26) and Tarmizi (27), now fear for their lives. The Mobile Brigade officers did not return their identity cards. Minister of Defense Mahfud MD, however, told the press Wednesday that many weapons had been handed over voluntarily to the police by Acehnese. "That shows that what the police are doing in Aceh is already right," he said. The crackdown on weapons possession, he continued, particularly by separatists rebels of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), was part of their commitment to stop violence and uphold the law. "Weapons possession is an illegal matter because of that it violates the law," he explained. As widely reported, the internationally brokered 'humanitarian pause' between the central government and GAM ended on January 15. That was also the deadline for the voluntary hand over of weapons following the release of an order issued by Aceh police several weeks earlier. GAM were not involved in negotiating their disarmament and stated they would not comply unless Indonesian troops were withdrawn from the province. Following the deadline and apparent end of government engagement with GAM on resolving Aceh's deep-rooted problems, many expected the arbitrary terror practiced by the security forces to escalate. Syukrizal's death is testament to that. According to the government, however, he is the victim of a too rigorous campaign to 'uphold the law'. END |