DATE=5/14/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=INDONESIA - ACEH (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-262345
BYLINE=BRONWYN CURRAN
DATELINE=BANDA ACEH
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: There has been violence in the Indonesian
province of Aceh just one day after the signing of an
historic peace accord between the government of
Indonesia and Aceh's separatist rebels. Bronwyn
Curran reports from the provincial capital, Banda
Aceh.
TEXT: The agreement signed in Switzerland on Friday
commits government troops and the rebels to a three-
month ceasefire starting June the second.
It is the first time Jakarta and the rebel "Free Aceh
Movement" have agreed to curb their violence, in the
25 years of brutal insurgency and anti-insurgency
operations.
But within 24 hours of the signing of the breakthrough
agreement, another incident typical of the almost
daily violence in the disputed province erupted,
leaving five people wounded from gunshots.
Police in Aceh say the shooting occurred when a group
of soldiers was ambushed by an armed group.
A local rebel commander however says his men attacked
the soldiers only after the soldiers shot three women
as they raided a village in search of a prison
escapee.
The incident highlights the tenuous nature of the
approaching cease-fire, which even the Indonesian
government will only call a "reduction in violence."
Both police and the rebels have vowed to abide by the
cease-fire. Police say they have ceased activities
targetting the rebels, while the rebels say they have
pulled their fighters back to their bases. Both
groups however have expressed concern the cease-fire
may be violated.
Police Colonel Safri Daengmapuji says he is worried
that unidentifiable trouble-makers may launch attacks,
which could be blamed on anyone.
A rebel commander based near the capital of Aceh,
Teungku Tarzurah, says he doesn't think it is possible
for the military to restrain itself.
//Tarzurah act in Indonesian, fade under//
Mr. Tarzurah says the chance of the military lessening
their violence is quite remote. That is because the
ambition of the Indonesian government to hold on to
Aceh is strong.
//End Tarzurah act.//
Apart from reducing the violence, the cease-fire is
also aimed at improving the delivery of humanitarian
aid and bringing the two sides closer to political
dialogue.
That is where a new deadlock could be encountered.
The rebels say they will never give up their demand
for independence.
Murhabat is one of the Free Aceh movement's guerilla
fighters.
//Begin Murhabat act. in Indonesian, fade under//
Murhabat says we will keep fighting for Aceh's freedom
until our last drop of blood. We will never retreat a
single step from our demand.
//End Murhabat act.//
However, Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid has
categorically ruled out independence as an option for
the resource-rich province, for fear it could
encourage other separatist movements in the vast
archipelago, and lead to the disintegration of
Indonesia.
He has offered instead, broad autonomy, a greater
share of revenue from the province's rich oil and gas
reserves, and the right to implement Islamic shariat
law. (Signed)
NEB/BC/PLM
14-May-2000 09:34 AM EDT (14-May-2000 1334 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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