Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia, Usman Hamid, has called for an independent investigation into violence by the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) against Acehnese civilians displaying the symbols of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).
The incident occurred during a TNI-led operation targeting a convoy carrying the GAM flag in Krueng Mane, North Aceh, on the night of Thursday, December 25, 2025. Usman described the raid as a serious human rights violation.
"The repressive actions allegedly carried out by joint TNI and police forces against volunteers distributing aid to Aceh Tamiang reflect an abuse of power. The humanitarian initiative was met with a raid, flag confiscation, beatings, kicks, and threats with weapons," Usman said in a statement on Friday, December 26.
Several videos circulating on social media appear to show security personnel beating volunteers, with some victims sustaining head injuries from rifle butts.
"This is excessive use of force that cannot be justified under any legal standard," Usman added.
From a human rights perspective, he emphasized that all citizens have the right to security and freedom from torture or degrading treatment. The reasons for seizing the GAM flag or citing traffic disruption, he said, were disproportionate to the level of violence used.
"The state has failed in its duty to protect citizens by allowing thuggish actions against unarmed civilians. This also violates the right to humanitarian assistance. The convoy represented the spirit of community cooperation and citizens' frustration at the slow response to floods," Usman said.
He warned that impeding aid and persecuting volunteers only worsens the suffering of disaster victims in Aceh Tamiang and other areas.
"Impunity cannot be tolerated. An independent, transparent investigation involving the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) is essential to hold perpetrators accountable," he said.
Usman stressed that the authorities must stop employing a militarized approach to civilian initiatives, particularly during disasters, and ensure the safety of all volunteers to allow unhindered delivery of aid, including from international sources.
Details of the incident
The violent disruption occurred when authorities stopped a convoy of aid trucks heading to Aceh Tamiang to inspect cargo and the display of the GAM flag, a symbolic identifier of Aceh. Tensions escalated, resulting in at least five reported cases of physical assault.
Three viral videos appear to show the violence: one depicts several individuals in green camouflage repeatedly kicking a person until they collapse, with police in brown uniforms present.
Another shows people in green uniforms, some carrying rifles, striking others. Injured victims, including one with a head wound, were visible inside vehicles.
One victim from Gampong Alue Kuta, Jangka Sub-district, Bireuen Regency, who was not carrying a GAM flag, described the attack as occurring while volunteers were en route to deliver aid to flood victims.
TNI response
Rear Admiral Freddy Ardianzah, Chief of the TNI Information Center, expressed regret over viral videos he said misrepresented the TNI.
"The TNI regrets the circulation of videos containing incorrect narratives that discredit the institution. The information does not reflect the facts and may mislead the public," Freddy told Tempo.
He explained that the sweep occurred from the afternoon of December 25 into the early hours of December 26 as a joint operation with police to prevent convoys of former GAM combatants and the display of the GAM flag on vehicles.
Freddy said the ban on raising the GAM flag is due to its association with a separatist movement that opposes the sovereignty of Indonesia.