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Exact
location
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THE INDONESIAN the Indonesian administrative structure,
Banda Alam is a newly established Sub-District made out of
some of the areas which were before within the Sub-Districts
of Idi Rayeuk and Julok;
Under
the Free Acheh (GAM)'s structure, all these areas are under
the Federated State of Peureulak.
However,
the location of the massacre can be pinpointed simply as
within the "Afdeling (Dutch for "Division")
IV of PT. Bumi Flora's plantation, in the village of Alue
Rambot, near the market place of Keude Geureubak, in the
Sub-District of Banda Alam, North Julok. This killing
location is about 15 km from the national trunk road of
Banda Acheh - Medan. Some press reports in Indonesia have
erroneously put the site as within the Sub-District of Idi
Rayek.
Legal
control of the place
At
the moment SIRA has not been able to determine the owner or
the general manager of the privately owned PT. Bumi Flora
company. However, we have been able to obtain some
information from local members of the public and from some
workers of the company itself, that PT. Bumi Flora employs
mainly ethnic Javanese (transmigrants) together with some
Achenese, especially those from East Acheh. In fact, the
majority of the population of the Sub-Districts of Julok,
Banda Alam and Idi Rayek, is Javanese.
We
also gathered that the number of non-organic TNI (military)
and Polri (police) troops stationed within this PT. Bumi
Flora plantation has increased very sharply since the
implementation of the Security and Law Restoration Operation
(better known in its Indonesian abbreviation of OKPH).
According to the local population, the most notorious of the
non-organic troops are those stationed at the village of
Alue Ie Mirah, Afdeling IV, who are in fact, according to
our investigation, the perpetrators of the massacare.
According
to information obtained by SIRA, the ethnic Javanese workers
and villagers were often given lectures by the TNI/Polri
troops to fight against GAM and ethnic Achenese. Some of
them have been trained as militia by these troops. We found
such a situation is similar to that the military has created
in Central Acheh, which also has produced several massacres
recently of Achenese and Gayos whom the military accused of
having aided GAM.
Chronology
According
to eyewitnesses, the incident started on Wednesday, August
8, 2001, at about 05.30 am. GAM guerillas led by Ridwan Abu
Bakar, Operational Commander for the District of Peureulak,
launched an attack on the non-organic TNI unit stationed at
Afdeling IV, at the village of Alue Ie Mirah. In this
surprise dawn attack more than 20 members of the TNI unit
were killed, while the guerillas quickly withdrawn to their
base after the brief but successful attack.
The
situation that day became very tense with the troops
evacuating their fallen comrades all day long. In such a
situation the workers and villagers were naturally very
frightened. A small number of Achenese fled the area,
leaving their homes silently to go join their relatives in
neighbouring sub-districts.
Apart
from the usual fear of retaliation, their decision to flee
was reinforced by that fact that the Indonesian security
forces have warned them in advance that should there be any
attack by GAM against their units they, all the Achenese,
will be shot dead.
On
Thursday, August 9, 2001, at around 9.30 am., two truck
loads of non-organic TNI troops from the Command Post
located at the Pawn Shop building of Langsa (capital of East
Acheh District) arrived at the Afdeling IV site. These troops
were aided by other units of TNI stationed all over East
Acheh. SIRA has not yet been able to determine the total
number or identify of all the units involved. We are also
still investigating if any Brimob (mobile division) units of
the Police were involved.
Immediately
upon arrival, the troops surrounded a plantation area and
entered the barracks of the workers and called everyone out,
including the staff of the company. They interrogated the
Achenese while the Javanese helped by pointing out which
were which. The troops also robbed money from the Achenese
workers. Some 50 Achenese workers were gathered and told to
make a single file. The women were separated about 20 meters
away from the men. The male group that included a 2.5 year
old baby, were told to take off their shirts. Then the
leader of the troops told the men that the day before more
than 70 members of TNI were shot dead by GAM guerillas. They
asked the men the where-about of the GAM guerillas, and when
the men replied that they didn't know, the TNI commander
apologized to them saying that the troops have to avenge
their fallen comrades. Then shooting started immediately as
on cue and more than 30 men were killed on the spot and
several others were critically wounded. They troops also
shot towards the women where several children were also hit.
In the melee, a man managed to flee unnoticed into the
jungle.
After
the execution the troops proceeded with their search
operation to the adjacent villages and arrested any Achenese
they met. The detainees were brutalized and taken to their
different posts all over East Acheh. SIRA has not yet been
able to determine how many were arrested. We are also still
investigating if these dozens of villagers, some put the
number at hundreds, are still alive are have been executed.
The
troops left the massacre site at about 1.30 in the afternoon
on the same day. At about 2.00 pm., the local Red Cross (PMI)
of Langsa, and those from the Government Health Clinic (Puskemas)
of Idi Rayek, evacuated the corpses and the wounded. The
wounded were brought to Idi Rayeuk Puskemas or to the
General Hospital of Langsa, depending on the condition of
the injuries. The evacuation of the corpses were only
completed at about 7.45 pm.
Meanwhile,
after the incident the propaganda machine of the TNI/Polri
went straight to work with the local media and the society
leaders, to put the blame on GAM. Two SIRA activists in East
Acheh were able to monitor the activities of the TNI/Polri
officers who are known to be the organisers of OKPH,
including those from the North Sunatran Military Division,
Kodam I Bukit Barisan, that covers Acheh, who are always
present at the local Military District (Kodim) Hq. and the
local Police (Mapolres) Head Office, as well as at the
official residence of the East Acheh District Officer (Bupati)
in Langsa. They also saw several informants and militia
leaders who were always together with the said officers
since the incident. Among the local informants and militia
leaders who were very active after the massacre are:
-
H. Helmi Mahera al Mujahid, from Idi Rayeuk, former member
of the local Parliament (DPRD) during the New Order regime,
-
Drs. Syarifuddin Latief, former Mayor of Langsa in the New
Order regime, as well as several other civilians whose
identity SIRA is still investigating.
Friday,
August 10, 2001, from morning until the time of writing of
this report, dozens of TNI troops and intelligent agents
have been posted at the General Hospital of Langsa as well
as at the Idi Rayeuk Puskemas healt centre in order to
prevent any information getting out from the survivors.
The
TNI and intelligent agents have intimidated the families of
the victims in order not to tell anyone that the massacre
was perpetrated by the TNI troops. They were told to say
that the massacre was carried out by GAM guerillas or by
Hasan Tiro's Gang of Peace Disturbers. The blocage and
intimidation of the victims and their families are still in
force at this very moment. Every visitor to these two health
centres are checked and closely watched by TNI soldiers and
intelligent agents. Visitors are not allowed to see the
victims. At the same time 4 armoured assault vehicles and 8
trucks of troops have been sent to the PT. Bumi Flora
plantation and to the villages around it. These non-organic
troops are visiting houses individually to threaten the
villagers in order not to attempt to tell anyone that the
TNI troops were responsible for the massacre. They were also
told to say that the perpetrators of this heinous crime were
GAM guerillas.
The
names of the victims that we have been able to identify are
as follows:
THE DEAD
- Abdullah,
24, from Jambo Reuhat village, Idi Rayeuk
- Abdurrahman,
45, from Panton Labu, North Acheh
- Amiruddin,
age unknown, from Bagok Ulee Gajah village, East Acheh
- Darmansyah,
35, from Afdeling IV
- Edi
Syahputra, 17, from Jambo Reuhat village, Idi Rayeuk
- Efendi,
age unknown, from Bagok village
- Hasrawi,
18, from Blang Rambong village, Keude Geureubak, Banda
Alam
- Hendrawan,
4, from Panton Labu, North Acheh
- Ilyas, 20,
from Seuneubok Teungoh, Idi Cut
- Ilyas, 35,
from Afdeling IV
- Ilyas
Yunus, 34, from Afdeling IV
- Indrawan,
35, from Panton Labu, North Acheh
- Ismail,
25, from Jambo Reuhat, Idi Rayek
- Iswani,
25, from Keude Dua, Idi Rayeuk
- Kamaruddin,
infant of 2 1/2, from Blang Rambong, Keude Geureubak,
Banda Alam
- Mahyuddin,
17, from Jambo Reuhat, Idi Rayek
- M. Cut
Ali, 26, from Matang Kuli, North Acheh
- M. Jamil,
30, origine unknown
- M. Nasir
Abubakar, 43, from Panton Labu, North Acheh
- M. Nasir
Sabil, 25, from Matang Kuli
- Mustafa
Basyah, age unknown, from Rantau Panyang, Peureulak,
East Acheh
- M. Yunus,
25, from Jambo Reuhat, Idi Rayeuk
- M. Yusuf,
60, from Blang Rambong, Keude Geureubak
- Ridwan,
42, from Panton Labu, North Acheh
- Saifullah
Yahya, age unknown, from Peureulak East Acheh
- Samsul
Bahri, 20, from Panton Labu
- Samsul
Bahri Usman, 25, from Matang Kuli
- amsul
Bahri Yahya, age unknown, from Simpang Ulim
- Sofyan,
29, from Beuringen, Peureulak
- ulaemansyah
Putra, age unknown, from Seuneubok, Simpang, Idi Cut
- Usmani,
age unknown, from Panton Labu
IN
CRITICAL CONDITION
- Abdurrahim,
20, (no other information is available)
- Ihsan, 27,
from Teupin U, Matang Kuli
- M. Halim,
19, from Teupin U
- M. Jafar,
26, from Teupin U
- Nasruddin,
23, from Teupin U
- Saiful, 21
from Teupin U
- Ti Salma,
female, 28, from Teupin U
- Zulbahri,
19, from Teupin U
Up
to now no information is available on the number or the
where-about of those arrested and taken away by TNI troops
after the massacre. According to eyewitnesses who declined
to be named, there were dozens, some say hundreds of
Achenese arrested and taken away that day.
SIRA
demands
Although
SIRA is not yet able to provide certainty for this
allegation, we would like to take this opportunity to call
on defenders of human rights, peace, democracy and justice,
especially those at international level, to immediately take
serious steps to:
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Pressure
the Indonesian government to immediately pullout all
non-organic TNI/Polri troops from Acheh and to stop all
forms of military operations, especially the OKPH that
has produced several massacres within a very short
time. |
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Pressure the international community and the United Nations
to carry out human rights, security, and political
interventions in Acheh; and to stop all forms of political,
economic and military assistance to the Indonesian
government. |
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Participate in the independent investigation
on the massacre reported here above as well as on other
gross human rights violations that have taken place in Acheh. |
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Participate in the protection of the survivors, witnesses
and concerned family members of the incident, including
taking action for the prevention of recurrence of such a
horrendous massacre or the possibility of the launching of
an all out military retaliation by GAM guerillas against the
TNI/Polri. |
We
are convinced the peace loving civil societies of the world
would give serious attention to the plight of the Achenese
people in fighting for the rights.
Banda
Acheh, August 11, 2001
The
Presidium Council of the Acheh Referendum Information Centre
(SIRA)
NOTE: The
number of the dead victims may rise because according to
villagers there are still corpses that have not been found.
The total may reach more than 40. This assumption is based
on the fact that more than 40 men were gathered in single
file for the execution.
These data
were gathered from direct questioning of eyewitnesses,
members of the families of the victims, members of the local
government who asked that their identity not to be revealed
and from the Student and Youth Front Against Violence (FOMAPAK)
of Peureulak, East Acheh.
With
The
International Forum for Acheh (IFA) in New York. Email ifa@aceh.org |
