Human rights 'under attack' in Aceh
By Martin Iltis
MELBOURNE — Despite the winning of freedom in East Timor, the people of Aceh in Indonesia still face an uncertain future and human rights are still under attack, according to Acehnese political activist Otto Symasuddin Ishak. Ishak, a sociologist in Aceh, addressed more than 60 people at an October 28 forum organised by the Acehnese Australian Association, the Australian Council for Overseas Aid and Amnesty International.
Speaking through an interpreter, Ishak outlined the history of oppression of the Acehnese since Suharto took power in 1965, starting with the mass slaughter of communists and suspected communists. Repression increased at the end of the 1970s after the formation of the Free Aceh Movement, he said.
Suharto's defeat gave the Acehnese greater hope for a ballot on independence, Ishak said. The people are less fearful of canvassing the idea.
The creation of a new government position, minister for human rights, may indicate that the new regime will be less inclined to inflict human rights abuses on its critics, Ishak added, but he questioned whether the minister would protest against the abuses in Aceh and stand up to the military. The changes to the legislative and justice system have not been comprehensive enough to deal with such abuse, Ishak argued.
The Abdurrahman Wahid-Megawati Sukarnoputri leadership does not warrant much hope for the more than 80% of Acehnese who want independence, Ishak said. Both politicians have expressed their desire for a united Indonesia and both have been critical of East Timor's independence.
Ishak pointed to the difficulties of forging solidarity links with other organisations and struggles under conditions of military occupation. The Acehnese movement's links with the Free Papua Movement, for instance, broke down in the 1990s due to military repression.
Some links have more recently been made with radical student groups in Jakarta, but these groups too are under pressure, having been labelled communists by the Indonesian regime.
Ishak speculated about three possible scenarios in Aceh in the near future: an escalation of the Indonesian military's operations, armed insurrection by the Acehnese or a compromise involving some kind of truth and reconciliation process. He said that the last option is unlikely because the people of Aceh are desperate for a referendum and do not trust the Indonesian regime.