From: Amnesty International <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: INDONESIA: Renewed violence plunges Aceh province back into terror To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty International * News Service: 006/99 AI INDEX: ASA 21/02/99 11 JANUARY 1999 Indonesia Renewed violence plunges Aceh province back into terror The killing of four detainees by the Indonesian Armed Forces in the province of Aceh is one more grim reminder, in a week of violence, of the unchecked power of the Indonesian military, Amnesty International said today. The deaths of the four men followed renewed violence in the troubled province of Aceh during the first week of January. Women and children are feared to be among people killed in military operations to capture those responsible for the murder of six soldiers and the abduction of one other in late December 1998. "There were high hopes for human rights in Aceh last year after combat troops were withdrawn and the Head of the Armed Forces apologised for past violations," Amnesty International said. "However, now it looks as though the small step forward has been countered by a leap back into the terror that characterised the last ten years in Aceh." According to the Indonesian military, activities by the armed separatist group Aceh Merdeka have increased since the lifting of Aceh's status as a Area of Military Operation (DOM) in August 1998. The military has claimed that members of the group are behind the recent killings of soldiers and other protests in the province. "Of course those responsible for killing the soldiers should be brought to justice," Amnesty International said. "But the actions of the military in the last week are clearly not about justice, but revenge." Since 3 January at least 11 people -- and according to some reports many more -- have been killed by the military in a series of separate incidents. An unknown number were killed when the security forces opened fire on a crowd marching towards the town of Lhokseumawe. Others died during military raids on villages around Lhokseumawe, where Aceh Merdeka members were suspected of hiding. "This disproportionate response to the deaths of the soldiers will only fan existing tensions," Amnesty International warned. "However, there is still a window of opportunity left for the Habibie government to stop this cycle of violence and address the root causes of the grievances of the people of Aceh -- not least their need to know the truth and to be compensated for the horrific violations committed in the area during the early 1990s." Thirty soldiers have already been arrested for the deaths of the four men and the Indonesian Armed Forces (ABRI) have promised an investigation. Given the Habibie Government's poor record on investigating human rights violations and bringing the perpetrators to justice, Amnesty International is concerned that the incident will not be adequately investigated and that justice will not be done. Background Aceh was classified as an Area of Military Operations (DOM) from 1990 to 1998 during counter-insurgency operations to crush Aceh Merdeka. During that period serious human rights violations -- including extrajudicial executions, "disappearances", torture and arbitrary arrests -- were commonplace. The DOM was lifted in August 1998. ENDS.../ Amnesty International, International Secretariat, 1 Easton Street, WC1X 8DJ, London, United Kingdom **************************************************************** You may repost this message onto other sources provided the main text is not altered in any way and both the header crediting Amnesty International and this footer remain intact. Only the list subscription message may be removed. **************************************************************** To subscribe to amnesty-L, send a message to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> with "subscribe amnesty-L" in the message body. To unsubscribe, send a message to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> with "unsubscribe amnesty-L" in the message body. If you have problem signing off, contact <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Past and current Amnesty news services can be found at http://www.amnesty.org/news/ --------------09DD25C3A8996D5F73F52064-- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html The Year 2000 Bug - An Urgent Sustainability Issue http://www.peg.apc.org/~psutton/grin-y2k.htm
