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NEWS & LETTERS, March 2002
Resistance leader murdered in Aceh
Aceh mourns the death of
Teungku Abdullah Syafi'ie, the military commander of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM),
which has fought for Aceh's independence from Indonesia since 1976. Syafi'ie was
killed Jan. 22 by Indonesian military forces, who found his camp after the
provincial governor sent him a letter about peace talks. GAM suspects the letter
contained a tracking device. Aceh Central Information Center
(SIRA), a leader in the civilian movement for a referendum on Aceh's status,
issued a statement calling for calm. It read, in part, "Although he was a
military commander, Teungku Abdullah Syafi'ie was known to many as an amicable
personality and a humanist. SIRA is deeply saddened by the tragedy that has
struck this great personality of Aceh, his wife and several personal
guards." Aceh is a province of four
million people on the northern tip of Sumatra island. Last year 1,700
people—most of them civilians—were killed, largely by Indonesian security
forces. In February, the government reinstated a separate military command for
Aceh and renewed a presidential decree authorizing military action against the
rebels, amid criticism from human rights activists who fear even wider abuse by
security forces. Ten thousand soldiers and special police were recently sent to
Aceh to reinforce the regular contingent of around 30,000. One humanitarian worker sees a
pattern to the recent killings of prominent citizens and the intimidation of
human rights workers. "I think it's part of the military operation in Aceh
to stop the civil groups," said Juanda, 24, who runs the People's Crisis
Center, which supports more than 7,000 refugees displaced by the conflict.
"It is the ordinary people, not the rectors and the lawyers, who remain the
most common victims in this war." A typical example was reported
by relatives of a young farmer who was recently visited by four thugs wearing
plainclothes and carrying AK-47 rifles. "'You are GAM,' they told him. 'No,
sir,' the farmer replied. They gave him a beating on the head with a piece of
wood that left him in the hospital for two days. Before the armed men left, they
spotted a pretty young woman. 'Can we take her?‚' they asked. Then they shot
some buffalo belonging to local residents." Such incidents, including the
murder of civilians, occur every day. —Anne Jaclard |
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