[Lesley McCulloch, a lecturer in Asian Studies at the University of Tasmania in Australia, says government forces and the independence movement are responding to the problem in very different ways. She writes from Aceh that there's evidence that the police and military are involved in the drug trade, while the independence movement wants to stamp it out.]

The Indonesian military is short of funds and has taken to many creative ways to finance their operational and readiness costs over the years. In Aceh, it is no secret that the military's involvement in the local drugs economy has financed operations and lined the pockets of some serving personnel and well-connected local political elite.

The pro-independence movement operating in the province has also been accused of trafficking in marijuana domestically to support its operations. The movement (previously known as GAM), recently renamed itself the Government of the State of Aceh and vigorously denies any current involvement in this illegal commodity. And indeed, there is no proof of the movement's involvement – the same cannot be said of the military.

Drugs link revealed

There have been several incidents in the past few years where the military's involvement with drugs has received widespread publicity. For example, in a highly publicized case in late 1999 a military plane used to escort prisoners was found to be carrying 430kgs of marijuana. And in early 2001, members of the air force arrested the pilot of a police helicopter for marijuana trafficking. The pilot admitted that the 40 kg of marijuana in his possession was the property of Aceh Besar Police Chief.

There have been several such incidents, but most are dealt with simply by sharing the profits, rather than bringing anyone to justice. In North Aceh, a route commonly used to transport the drug, a Warrant Officer confesses, "Yes, I make money from the drugs that pass this way, we all do. The senior officers get a higher percentage of the profits, but last month for example, I made 300,000 rupiah from 'fines' from those trafficking. That is almost half my official salary."

Such illegal trading also adds another dimension to the conflict. In January 2002 local police received information that a certain military truck belonging to TNI was in fact transporting drugs. The truck was stopped by police, checked, and was indeed found to be full of marijuana. There was a skirmish as the TNI attempted to prevent the police from impounding the valuable cargo. One police and two military personnel were injured in this incident.

Such events are not unusual, and contribute to increasing levels of tension between TNI and the police. A journalist from the Aceh daily paper "Sermabi" says, "there are many incidents such as these, but we are often afraid to report the details."

Independence movement enforces customary law

While the military appears to be ignoring such behaviour, the independence movement has taken stern measures. In an internal memo dated August 20, there is evidence that in relation to marijuana, the movement is making a concerted effort to enforce customary law. This "customary law" follows very closely the legislation of the Republic of which they are legally part.

Signed by the head of the independence movement's Council of Samdura Pasee, and head of the movement's local police force in Pasee, the memo states quite clearly that marijuana "poses dangers to our young generation, ruins morality, and is against both national and international law."

The memo further states that a punishment of a maximum of 12 months detention and a fine of 26 million rupiah will be imposed on those found growing, stocking, selling or carrying the drug.

Smoking the substance is against religious convention in this pious Islamic province. Under the pro-independence movement's tough new policy, those found doing so will receive a penalty of two months detention and a fine of 4.5 million rupiah.

This document is evidence of the nation-building process that Tgk Malik, the independence movement's Prime Minister-in-waiting based in Sweden, says is so important. The Indonesian government, under whose sovereignty Aceh lies, does not recognize this "prime minister", nor does the international community.

But Malik says, "We don't mind undertaking this [nation-building] process from the outside. We must be ready to step in the minute Aceh gains independence." And among the many issues on the agenda is the local drugs economy.

Taking control The high level of militarisation in Aceh means the separatist group has found it increasingly difficult to manoeuvre. A 30 year war has been raging there and current President Megawati is pursuing a military solution to the problem which has led to the deployment of additional troops. How then does the independence movement intend to enforce the law? Surely a period of imprisonment in a volatile security environment is all-but impossible?

A representative of the movement in Banda Aceh, Amni Amad Marzuki says, "Yes, it is impossible to intern someone in the Western sense of imprisonment. But you must bear in mind two things. First, we do not envisage large numbers of people being detained."

And second, it is in the areas where the movement has control, says Amni, where the people will be held.

"It is intended that a short period of strict detention will be followed by re-education and then of "civil service", such as cleaning mosques, helping rebuild infrastructure that has been destroyed by the Indonesian military," he says.

Spokesperson for the movement's Central Bureau of Information, Tgk Isnander, says, "This policy, which is specific to Pasee area now, will be used as the basis of an Aceh-wide policy. Indeed, perhaps in some areas the period of detention and the fine will be tougher, perhaps in some, lighter."

There have been several cases of punishment meted out in this way. For example, some have been punished for adultery, theft, informing, misusing weapons, or abusing the position the movement affords them. This is not a sign that misbehaviour is rampant within the movement. Rather, it is a sign that those who misbehave will be punished.

The independence movement has in fact, been addressing the issue of drugs for some time. In 2000, they declared "war" on marijuana syndicates, which, they say, have long brought disgrace to the province. The movement was reported to be taking stern action on those found smoking, planting or selling the drug. A period in leg irons was reportedly the punishment, followed by a signed statement by each stating they would not repeat the offence.

'Messy little war' continues

The war in Aceh has claimed more than 900 lives this year alone. Despite an on-going process of talks aimed at finding a negotiated settlement to the dispute, it seems that for the foreseeable future at least, the violence is only set to escalate. Key figures in the military and political elite continue to engage in inflammatory remarks such as threatening to impose a state of emergency and to crush the independence movement. There have also been regular threats that the government will pull out of the talks, which indicates a lack of commitment.

In the short-term, it is likely that this messy little war will become even more violent before any resolution is reached. Surely the Indonesian government should realize that the current policy is both counter-productive and unsustainable? With every new victim, the seeds are being sown for the continuation of the conflict.