'Indeed there have been suppressive actions of the neo-colonialist regime of Indonesia against SIRA activists; by arrest, detention, intimidation, kidnapping and murder that have been carried out to suppress the peaceful and democratic popular actions organized by SIRA.'

1. Since 1999, the Indonesian police and military (POLRI/TNI) authorities in Acheh have carried out
   violent actions against the supporters of referendum,
   with several activists of SIRA are actually still
   under detention.
2. From 16 to 18 August 2000, POLRES (POLRI's force based in Acheh) have repeatedly ransacked SIRA's office in Banda Acheh. On these occasions they stole banners and documents used for popular civil actions such as demonstrations. Even when SIRA was just organizing mass prayers for peace, the police and soldiers are not above harassing the participants, brutalizing and shooting at ordinary civilians.
3. On September 19, 2000, Mapolda (Indonesian Police headquarters in Banda Acheh) and POLRES kidnapped 2 SIRA activists: Muhammad Saleh dan Muzakkir Following is the report of the two victims: "The incident took place when we were waiting for our car to be repaired at a workshop. 6 men in civilian clothing carrying rifles and pistols. Everyone in the workshop was ordered to fall flat on the ground. The two of were then taken to the BRIMOB (Special Para-military mobile brigade of the police) office. On arrival we were ordered to take off our cloths and then we were tortured by 13 burly men using HT aerial, chairs, woods, pipes, rifle butts, kitchen knives to slash our necks and poke our eyes. Then we were taken to the Police Headquarters. When we reached the compound of this office, we were attacked by members of the non-organic police force (units from outside Acheh) who punched and kicked us. We were then placed in a small cell and tortured again by 19 men taking turn until we lost consciousness. Our lips were broken and bleeding. After undergoing interrogations for 24 hours and they found that we had done nothing wrong, we were released. We learned later that this was the result of pressures from various sectors of the Achenese society and from international human rights NGOs. But we still had to stay a week in hospital for treatment of our injuries, the pains of which we are still suffering to this day.
4. On 4-8 November 2000, POLRI/TNI arrested, detained and tortured dozens of ordinary people who
   participated in the mass written plebiscite to determine the Status of Acheh organized by SIRA.
5. The days approaching the popular rally for peace by
   the people of Acheh (called SIRA RAKAN) organized by SIRA that ended on November 14, the Polres of Acheh Besar and Mapolda assisted by TNI soldiers ransacked the office of SIRA and of other human rights and referendum activists. Working documents on democracy, peace and civil political actions were stolen. The intention behind these atrocious actions was to capture Muhammad Nazar, chairman of the Presidium of SIRA who at the time was also Coordinator of the SIRA-RAKAN project. But they did not find him. This caused the highest officials of POLRI and TNI even Ministers to issue statements threatening Muhammad Nazar and other activists in order to stop their peaceful civil action campaigns. Wanted M.Nazar. Consequently, in order to prevent violent measures by the police/military against M. Nazar and other political, human rights and democracy activists, he decided to comply with the summon issued by the POLRES of Acheh Besar and thus he presented himself to the police on November 20, 2000, whereby he was immediately arrested, although there was no clear legal basis at all for such a measure.

'...ironically, and typically
in fact, the police does not question all the brutalities perpetrated by its own personnel and by the TNI soldiers against the people of Acheh, killings, kidnappings and tortures of innocent civilians, rapes of women and children, the burning of houses, shops, villages even towns is a normal action for them.'

'Wild shooting without provocations and burning of houses and shops as retaliation for attacks against soldiers or police by GAM have resulted in 1113 civilians killed. The 10230 houses and shops burnt are located all near military or police bases.' —— FP. HAM, an internationally well respected local human rights NGO

'Judges and prosecutors have simply abandoned their posts, to go back to their home provinces still earning their salaries without doing any work. It is no wonder that the civil society does not trust the government anymore.'

This is the fate that has befallen on Muhammad Nazar, chairman of the Presidium of SIRA on November 18 2000. It is well known to the world at large that SIRA has always acted in organizing the civil society in Acheh for peaceful, democratic and non-violent action. But its moves have always been the target of sabotage by the security forces to prevent them from being realized without any bad incidents. Vocal and organized civil movements have always been targeted with intimidations and terrors. Human rights activists and humanitarian workers have been intimidated, tortured, kidnapped and executed. NGOs are being pressured to keep quite and not voiced their disapproval of the military and the police, to the point that many cases of gross human rights abuses cannot not be publicized.

Never a positive response from the Central Government

Proposals and feedbacks forwarded by members of the civil society in Acheh have always been ignored by the Central Government, if a response is given it is in the form of violence. Pledges and promises have been made without ever being realized. Statements that hurt the feeling and insult the intelligence of the people of Acheh are issued easily and very often by the central leadership and by the security authorities; facts are turned around and falsified. Kidnapping and murders by the security forces are easily blamed to "unknown perpetrators".
 
Law and order not implemented

There has been uncountable number of offences against law and order during the conflict in Acheh that has run for more than half a century, without being acted upon. In fact many officers of the security forces have benefited from the conflict by carrying out illegal operations such as trading in drugs, especially "ganja" (the Indonesian version of marijuana), illegal confiscation of properties, robberies and murders. In every case that has occurred the law enforcement agencies have proven themselves to be unable or rather unwilling to act, even in cases where they themselves were not the perpetrators. Major massacres that have been widely publicized worldwide, some even completely recorded on videos by Indonesian and foreign TV crews, are sooner than later forgotten. No human rights violators have been seriously charged in court despite the availability of proofs and witnesses.

The courts of justice in Acheh are no longer functioning, because the majority of the offenders are those who are supposed to be the enforcers of law and order. Judges and prosecutors have simply abandoned their posts, to go back to their home provinces still earning their salaries without doing any work. It is no wonder that the civil society does not trust the government anymore. The administrative branches of the government have practically close down from the village up to the District levels, most of which have been replaced by those of GAM (Free Acheh Movement). In fact much of the daily life of the people, from the administration of justice to such administrative activities as marriage solemnization, trading, property transfer, contract, etc., are being handled by GAM, with appropriate taxes paid to its coffers. Indeed, on the Indonesian side, the only laws that are being strongly implemented are those that were formulated by the Dutch colonial government to silent its critics and political dissidents, such as the ones used against Muhammad Nazar.

What the Indonesian Government should do.

With the actual situation as it is, the Indonesian government has no choice but to carry out the following measures, if it wishes to continue existing as a civilized member of the international community and not be regarded as a pariah State.

1. Withdraw all non-organic security forces from Acheh.
2. Continue to work with mediator Henry Dunant Center
   and ask a third power acceptable to both parties, such
   as the United Nations, to strengthen the implementation of the agreements.
3. Accept the request of the United Nations to open  a
   permanent political and conflict monitoring office in
   Acheh.

1. Protect, respect human rights and democracy in
   accordance with the articles 17 and 28 of the 1945
   Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia and the
   Universal Declaration of Human Rights that Indonesia
   has signed.
2. Bring to justice all violators of human rights by
   being charged in an internationally recognized Human
   Rights Court.
3. Find a comprehensive, democratic and peaceful
   solution to the conflict acceptable to both parties or
   let the people of Acheh decide their own future in
   accordance with their aspiration whether to remain
   within the Republic of Indonesia or to be independent,
   free from all oppressions, as has been promised by the
   President of the Republic of Indonesia.

1. Send immediately an investigation team to Acheh.
2. Strengthen the Henry Dunant Center (HDC) in its
   mediation efforts by assigning an enforcement power
   acceptable to both parties.
3. Open a representative office immediately in Acheh
   within the framework of monitoring the real condition
   there.
4. Pressure Indonesia to stop all violence and to
   charge violators of human rights in an internationally
   recognized human rights court.
5. Pressure Indonesia to implement its commitment to
   International conventions that it has signed such as
   the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
6. Provide humanitarian aid directly to the Achenese
   victims and IDPs.
7. Allow the rights to self-determination for Acheh as
   promised  by Indonesia president.