May 11, 2004

Acheh: TNI accused of pressuring village heads to support martial law extension


All Acheh village heads are forced to come to the Kodim headquarters with the aim of making them sign a document supporting an extension of martial law in Acheh
Untitled Document
May 9, 2004 Khairul, Banda Aceh – The head of the Pidie regional
military command (Kodim), Infantry Lieutenant Rochim
Siregar, has been forcing all village heads to come to the
Kodim headquarters with the aim of making them sign a
document supporting an extension of martial law in Aceh. It
they fail to attend without a clear reason, action is taken
against them. Free Aceh Movement (GAM) spokesperson for the
Pidie sub-district, Anwar Husen, told Fpdra.com that this
is an indication that the TNI (armed forces) has failed to
eliminate GAM in Aceh.

During the one year of martial law the TNI has not been
made any significant progress so they are now forced make
it appear as if it is the public who is asking for an
extension to martial law though demonstrations and getting
village heads to sign documents of support. Furthermoresaid Husen, this represents efforts by the TNI to
legitimise launching its operations in Aceh.

This a political game by the TNI which finding itself at
odds with the civilian administration in Jakarta, so that
the TNI needs fake legitimisation from the people to
continue its genocide in Aceh said Husen. As well as
coercing the people to support an extension the TNI is also
forcing the civilian government in Aceh to go along with or
to submit to all kinds of policies by the emergency
military command (PDMD), and this represents the interests
of specific civilian politicians who are thirsting for
power for the sake of power and are prepared to sacrifice
the Acehnese people continued Husen.

According to Habiburrahman, from the People’s Lawyers Union
(Serikat Pengacara Rakyat, SPR), the conflict between the
political elite as the end of one year of martial law in
Aceh approaches is increasingly tangible, particularly over
ca! ses of corruption by civilians while corruption by the
PDMD are ignored completely.

Source: Fpdra