Amesty Statement on Aceh
* News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty
International *
News Service 146/99
AI INDEX: ASA 21/79/99
4 August 1999
INDONESIA
Getting away with murder: Killings by the Indonesian military in Aceh
As the death toll from the latest massacre by the Indonesian security
forces in Aceh continues to rise, Amnesty International warned that the
security forces are again operating outside the law -- literally getting
away with murder.
At least 40 -- possibly as many as 70 -- people were reportedly killed
by the security forces during counter-insurgency operations in Beutong
Sub-district, West Aceh, on 23 July.
"For ten years, the Indonesian security forces have killed with impunity
in Aceh," Amnesty International said. "We are urging the government to
learn from the lessons of the province's past in order to bring an
immediate halt to serious human rights violations."
"The recent dramatic escalation in human rights violations in Aceh,
including dozens of extrajudicial executions, "disappearances" and
arbitrary arrests, flies in the face of the government's commitments to
address human rights problems in Indonesia."
"In the current climate of impunity, increasing troop numbers -- rather
than attempting to address the problems in Aceh -- will only worsen
Aceh's already critical human rights situation."
The violations committed in the province of Aceh in northern Sumatra are
occurring in the context of Indonesian National Army (TNI)
counter-insurgency operations against the armed opposition group Gerakan
Aceh Merdeka (GAM), Free Aceh Movement, which intensified its activities
in late 1998. GAM have also committed human rights abuses.
In response to GAM's increased activities, the Indonesian authorities
have sent in more troops -- including so-called "crack" police troops -
who are targeting ordinary civilians as well as suspected members of
GAM. Both the TNI and police are flouting Indonesian law and
international human rights standards in carrying out their operations.
In January 1999, Amnesty International warned that human rights
violations could escalate if troops were re-deployed to Aceh. Since then
dozens of people have been unlawfully killed and "disappeared" by the
security forces -- including by troops sent to the province in recent
months to resolve the violence.
President Habibie's government has so far failed to bring to justice
members of the security forces who tortured, "disappeared" or unlawfully
killed thousands of Acehnese during counter-insurgency operations in
Aceh from 1989-1998.
"The government's failure to address the human rights violations of the
past sends a message to the security forces that they can continue to
kill, "disappear" and torture people without being held to
account,"Amnesty International said.
The human rights organization acknowledged President Habibie's latest
initiative to establish an independent commission to investigate
violence in Aceh. However, the commission can only contribute to ending
impunity in Aceh if it is given access to all areas of the province; if
it conducts full and independent investigations; if its findings are
made public and if it leads to the prosecution of those found
responsible.
As a first step towards ending the current wave of violations, the
government should immediately instruct the TNI and police operating in
Aceh to act according to international human rights standards and
domestic law. The government should also demonstrate its commitment to
human rights by bringing members of the security forces who commit human
rights violations to justice.
The armed opposition also have a responsibility to halt human rights
abuses and to immediately instruct GAM members to stop unlawful killings
of soldiers and civilians.
The international community, which is currently paying close attention
to the security situation in East Timor, should recognise that the same
factors which allow human rights violations to occur in East Timor are
also evident in Aceh.
"The international community largely ignored Aceh's grave human rights
situation from 1989 to 1998. If they do so again the human cost will be
high." Amnesty International said.
The organization appealed to governments worldwide to immediately urge
the Indonesian government to stop the human rights violations in Aceh
and to review their own military, security and police links with
Indonesia to ensure that they are not facilitating such violations.
ENDS.../
Amnesty International, International Secretariat, 1 Easton Street,
WC1X 8DJ, London, United Kingdom
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