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Violence continues despite ceasefire

Source
South China Morning Post - June 13, 2000

Chris McCall, Jakarta – Fighting is officially over in Aceh province, but a month after a ceasefire accord it is hard to tell the difference. Fighting has continued unabated since the deal took effect on June 2, with at least two people dead and many more wounded or made refugees.

On Sunday, Harun Ardy became the latest in a series of Acehnese politicians to be murdered. A local legislator, he follows to the grave hundreds of other Acehnese.

Rebel leader Teuku Don Zulfahri was murdered in Malaysia on the eve of the truce, and since then the rebels' chief spokesman has also disappeared, triggering claims of kidnapping.

Sweeping operations in the villages by the police and military go on, hunting for the Free Aceh guerillas they are also talking peace with in the capital, Banda Aceh.

The main changes so far have been bureaucratic. Joint committees set up by the May 12 deal have been formed, although it took much longer than the two weeks originally foreseen. They have not done much work; the committee which should be monitoring the ceasefire has not met.

The rebels are not impressed. Nasruddin Ahmad, head of a five-member rebel delegation to a joint committee on security, said the military and police were being obstructive. "The development is quite difficult. There are many points which cannot be agreed, for example on operations by the military and police," Mr Ahmad said yesterday.

Largely confined to their Banda Aceh hotel, he and his four colleagues fear for their security if they go out. They are now openly identified as rebels, known and recognised by the security forces who control the city and whom they still distrust after more than 10 years of fighting. The war has killed thousands, including many combatants from both sides.

"We seldom leave the hotel because there is no guarantee that we are very confident about," Mr Ahmad said. Security forces were still carrying out sweeping operations, with civilians the main victims. "It's the usual," he said. "They shoot and hit people. There's no change."

Despite the problems there are some encouraging signs, said Saifuddin Bantasyam, executive director of Care Human Rights Forum in Banda Aceh. Land transport has become easier and security in the capital has improved. Ahead of the deal, Banda Aceh was rocked by a series of explosions and arson attacks.

"The general picture is that during these last few days there has been a change – an atmosphere that is more conducive. This needs time," Mr Bantasyam said. But he added his own word of caution: "There are signs that are better but I don't know for how long. This could easily change in just a few days."

The shooting at point-blank range of Zulfahri on June 1 at a Kuala Lumpur restaurant cast a chill over the accord from the day it took effect, June 2. Rebels blamed the Indonesian military intelligence. Since then the rebel spokesman who made that claim, Ismail Sahputra, has himself gone missing, prompting suggestions he has been kidnapped by the security forces. Rebel delegate Mr Ahmad said his colleague might yet turn up safe and well, but he admitted Mr Sahputra had not been heard from for several days.

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