Jakarta – A number of civil society groups and organisations have criticised the alleged violence and repressive actions by Indonesian Military (TNI) officers against a demonstration by people in North Aceh over the government's handling of the flood and landslide disaster.
The members of the civilian coalition believe that the TNI's actions have reopened the trauma of the 32-year Aceh armed conflict. According to the coalition, the TNI and other related authorities should prioritise an approach of dialogical with people who are currently feeling frustrated because of the disaster they have suffered.
The TNI's repressive actions against residents carrying or displaying white flags and the crescent moon flags which are synonymous with the now defunct Free Aceh Movement (GAM) have been in the public spotlight recently. Not only residents, but journalists covering the incident were also targets of violence by the authorities.
"This matter should be resolved through dialogue by the Aceh government or the police. The TNI's repressive actions against the people of Aceh actually reopens the old trauma of 32 years of armed conflict in Aceh", said the coalition in a statement on Saturday December 27.
Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI) Management Board Chairperson Julius Ibrani, a representative of the coalition, believes that the TNI's actions were contrary to their duties and functions, which should not include interfering with or dealing with protest actions or demonstrations.
Ibrani believes that the raising of the white flag or GAM's star and crescent moon flag should not be a reason for the TNI to use a violent approach. "The TNI should not use the pretext of the crescent moon flag to be involved in handling demonstrations", he said in the statement.
In the same statement, Indonesian Human Rights Watch (Imparsial) Director Ardi Manto Adiputra said that the deployment of Lilawangsa/011 Sub-Regional Military Command (Korem) troops to disperse the action by residents on December 25 violated the TNI Law and the 1945 Constitution.
In a post-disaster recovery situation, said Adiputra, the TNI is suspected of lacking sensitivity and awareness in dealing with civil problems that occur in society.
According to Adiputra, public unrest should not be responded to with repressive and militaristic actions, which in fact increasingly demonstrate the unprofessionalism of the military.
"Once again, the Coalition strongly condemns the repressive actions carried out by the TNI against civilians in North Aceh, and urges the DPR [House of Representatives] and the government to order the TNI Commander to act quickly and firmly against TNI elements who violate [the TNI Law], so as not to create new trauma for the people of Aceh", he said.
Apart from the PBHI and Imparsial, a number of other organisations are members of the coalition, namely the Centra Initiative, DeJure, the Raksha Initiative, the Human Rights Working Group (HRWG) and the Indonesian Women's Coalition (KPI).
Journalist safety committee
In addition to criticising the TNI violence against civilians, the Committee for the Safety of Journalists (KKJ) condemned and protested alleged reporting restrictions and repressive actions against journalists who are covering the handling of the disaster in Sumatra, including in Aceh.
The KKJ is a strategic alliance established to fight impunity for cases of violence against journalists. This committee consists of 11 press organisations and civil society groups ranging from the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), the Indonesian Photo Journalists (PFI), the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), the Legal Aid Foundation for the Press (LBH Pers), the Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet), Indonesian Television Journalists Association (IJTI), Indonesian Cyber Media Association (AMSI) and the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI).
They also gave examples of a number of incidents of alleged repressive actions and intimidation. The KKJ said this series of events shows that there are serious efforts to control the flow of public information and suppress facts. On that basis, the KKJ expressed at least three views.
"Restrictions and intimidation against journalists are a direct attack on press freedom, which cannot be separated from freedom of expression and citizens' right to know. Press freedom is the main indicator of civil freedoms and the quality of democracy", they said bearing in mind the provisions of the Press Law.
According to the KKJ, restrictions on disaster reporting are a serious violation of the right to information, which is a human right and constitutional right of citizens that is guaranteed under Article 28F of the 1945 Constitution.
"In the context of a disaster, restrictions on information are not only unlawful, but also threaten public safety", they said.
They then called for guarantees of state protection for journalists' work. In addition to that, the KKJ also urged the Press Council to actively encourage and pressure the state to fulfil its obligations in protecting press freedom, especially in disaster situations.
The TNI's explanation
Meanwhile, TNI Information Centre Head Major General Freddy Ardianzah said that the viral video and the narrative that has developed regarding the incident does not match the facts on the ground.
Setting the record straight, he said that the incident Lhokseumawe city began on the morning of December 25 and continued until the early hours of December 26. Initially, a group of people gathered then held a convoyed and demonstration, and some of them flew the crescent moon flag.
Yet flying this flag is prohibited because it is regulated under Articles 106 and 107 of the Criminal Code (KUHP), Article 24 letter a of Law Number 24/2009 as well as Government Regulation Number 77/2007. He also asked the public not to be easily provoked.
"The action korlap [field coordinator] stated that the incident was just a difference of understanding and agreed to peaceful resolution with the authorities. The TNI is appealing to the public not to be easily provoked by information whose truth has not been verified", he said this week.
Meanwhile, DPR Commission I member TB Hasanuddin reminded the authorities not to use violent methods in responding to the recent raising of the crescent moon flag which is synonymous with the GAM in several parts of Aceh.
Hasanuddin believes that the government and officials need to see this phenomenon as a social symptom that must be responded to wisely, calmly and proportionally.
"Flying the GAM flag is a social symptom. We hope that the resolution is not done through violence, let alone using weapons. The right approach is dialogue and persuasive steps as best as is possible", said the DPR member in charge of defence affairs in a statement on Saturday.
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician believes that the current government should focus on handling the disaster and rehabilitating the victims. They are considered to need the presence of the state more than an atmosphere that triggers tensions.
"The community needs the presence of the state to help them recover, not an atmosphere that has the potential to trigger tensions", he said. (kid/kid)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Koalisi Sipil Minta Cara Dialogis Ditempuh di Kasus Bendera di Aceh".]
