Matthew Moore, Jakarta – The Indonesian Government is planning new regulations to restrict foreign access to the war-torn Aceh province, as evidence emerges that the Indonesian army has trained militia groups to help its military offensive against the separatist movement GAM.
Journalists, tourists and members of non-government organisations including aid groups would all have their access to Aceh blocked, Security Minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said.
He was quoted by The Jakarta Post saying a total ban would be imposed in Aceh after the army's shooting of two German tourists last week. "This ban is urgent to avoid any foreign victims in the province and to help make the military operation a success," he said.
The Information Minister, Syamsul Muarif, said that instead of a total ban, the Government could impose other restrictions on the movement of foreign journalists and members of NGOs. He said the restrictions were designed to avoid an international incident from the death of more foreigners, although diplomats are concerned closing Aceh will lead to comparisons with Indonesia's actions in East Timor.
Western embassies are also concerned that closing Aceh to foreigners could lead to major problems if there are large numbers of refugees as a result of the military operation. "The Government will be setting itself up for a crunch by insisting NGOs can't operate," one Western diplomat said.
There are about seven NGOs staffed by about two dozen foreigners operating mainly in Aceh's capital, Banda Aceh.
Indonesia's National Commission for Human Rights (Komnas HAM) said yesterday that the moves to restrict access by foreign journalists would backfire on the Indonesian military (TNI).
Mohamad Billah, who has just returned from heading a three-day preliminary investigation in Aceh, urged the Government not to cut off access for foreigners. "It will lead to the interpretation that all news coming out of Aceh is not objective because it is censored by the TNI," he said.
Under martial law, the Indonesian military has the power to restrict coverage in Aceh, although the military's commander, General Endriatono Sutarto, has said itshould not be exercised.
Mr Billah said his team heard allegations of six types of violations since martial law was introduced on May 19.
Witnesses told his team that the military had recruited and trained non-Acehnese civilians and that one of these militia groups had burnt down the office of the Joint Security Council whose members were seeking to uphold a ceasefire agreement, he said.
He said the militias were organised in central Aceh where they attacked the office in Takenon. Mr Billah said they were trained to make and use homemade guns, just as they were in East Timor in the lead-up to the independence vote in 1999.
It was suspected the militias had been prepared since the cessation of hostilities agreement was signed last December, he said.
The conflict appears to be escalating, with the Indonesian Red Cross stating yesterday it had taken 151 bodies to hospitals and morgues over three weeks.
Scores of bodies of villagers killed by the military of GAM had also been buried. An Indonesian Red Cross spokesman told Reuters the dead were in civilian clothes although that did not necessarily mean they were civilians.