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'The Indonesian Government has always acted unilaterally in making political decisions intended for the solution of the Acheh conflict. It is very difficult to accept such an attitude.'
'We as the people who will have to shoulder the danger of the existence of this KODAM, still have the full right to reject that political decision.'
'We firmly reject the re-institution of the "KODAM I Iskandar Muda" in Acheh.'
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 aving considered this matter, we feel the statement is too Jakarta centric. The Indonesian Government has always acted unilaterally in making political decisions intended for the solution of the Acheh conflict. It is very difficult to accept such an attitude, because it is the Achenese people who always have to shoulder its consequences. The government’s plan to re-institute the Military Regional Command (KODAM) in Acheh represents a very grave mistake in the efforts to find a peaceful and democratic solution to the conflict in Acheh. It is thus revealed that the Indonesian government’s statement all this while that have the nuances of a peaceful approach are in fact not more than a political manipulation intended to fool the public about all the wrongs that have been committed against the Achenese people.
The Indonesian Government has never been open and wholesome in its efforts to solve the Acheh conflict; not a single violation of human rights has been brought to justice. In fact, ironically, the Government wanted to wipe out all these wrongs so easily by uttering some simple words of apology, while in reality the conflict that is on-going today represents an inseparable string of historical incidents. Consequently, the Government has realized that the Achenese people’s growing resistance has been caused by the fault of the Governments in the past that is continued to be carried on until today in Acheh.
Historical experience has shown that the Achenese people’s resistance since the Dutch colonial time is not one that is to be doubted. We thus do stress hereby that the Indonesian Government should not hope too much that with the re-institution of the KODAM in Acheh it would be able to subdue the resistance, let alone to solve the Acheh conflict. We stand by our conviction that although the Indonesian Government might be able to silence the political aspiration of the Achenese people by military means (TNI/Polri), that will not translate into the defeat or the death of resistance in Acheh, because in the decades to come the spirit of resistance will shine again to destroy the Indonesian Tyrants.
We call on the Achenese people, that even though the planned re-establishment of KODAM may become a reality despite the Indonesian Government’s dismissing our people’s aspiration whether to accept or reject the plan, we as the people who will have to shoulder the danger of the existence of this KODAM, still have the full right to reject that political decision. This is because we know that the formation of the KODAM is a unilateral political decision of the Indonesian Government imposed on the Achenese people.
The rejection of the Achenese people is not without basis; the Indonesian Defense Minister’s statement stated above clearly shows the reason for the rejection. We consider the said statement as to mean:
Firstly: The strategic aspect of the Acheh territory meant by the Indonesian Government is not just a strategy in the sense of defense and security from external attacks (from the Indian Ocean to the Straits of Malacca), but actually, if the Indonesian Government wants to be honest about it, the formation of the KODAM is based more on the strategic economic aspect of the Achenese natural resources, to the point that KODAM is expected to be able to control the centralization of any potential future capital investment in Acheh.
Secondly: The defense and security aspect: This matter has no basis whatsoever as a reason for the formation of the KODAM in Acheh. Because the necessity of defending the territory from internal attacks is not limited to Acheh only, let alone for the purpose of conflict resolution. Furthermore, this aspect is also not just a matter of defense and security, because such an excuse obliges the Indonesian Government to form a KODAM in all provinces in Indonesia. Based on these facts, it is thus very clear that the intention to re-establish the KODAM in Acheh represents an effort of the Indonesian Government to silence the political protest of the Achenese people over the injustices that it has perpetrated on them. The defense and security aspect is thus just an effort of the Indonesian Government to defend its exploitation of capital in Acheh.
Thirdly: The Indonesian Constitutional Aspect: This factor clearly shows the military interest in territorial control over Acheh. Furthermore, this aspect represents security forces (TNI/Polri)’s preparation in anticipation of 2004. So the formation of KODAM is a legalized form of territorial control such as practiced during the era of "Dwi Fungsi ABRI" (dual functions –civilian and military- of the security forces) which has been deleted from the Indonesian laws. Consequently, Megawati, as President of Indonesia has to incorporate the KODAM in Acheh, as a payback to the military for having supported her in ousting and replacing Gusdur.
Based on the realities presented above, we, who are affiliated in the "Aliansi Anti KODAM (AAK)", or Anti-KODAM Alliance, do hereby state that we:
 Firmly reject the re-institution of the "KODAM I Iskandar Muda" in Acheh because the Achenese people as a social group have the right to accept or to reject any decision made unilaterally by Indonesia.
Call on all the people of the Achenese nation to remain consistent and to firmly reject the re-institution of the "KODAM I Iskandar Muda" in Acheh, because this KODAM represents a political decision that is against the historical reality in as far as finding a resolution of the Acheh conflict is concerned.
State that cited aspects of strategic territorial position of Acheh, of defense and security as well as of the Indonesian Constitution as supporting factors for the formation of the "KODAM I Iskandar Muda" in Acheh, do not reflect a national character that has humanitarianism and social justice, but one that is of a tyrannical dictatorship.
Call on the Indonesian Government to be wiser in making political decisions that concern the Acheh case. Because historically, Indonesia has always been too Jakarta centric in its attempt to solve the Acheh conflict. In this case, the planned formation of KODAM is also not based on consideration of Achenese interest and needs. If the Indonesian Government wanted to solve the Acheh conflict by peaceful and democratic means, the formation KODAM represents a very grave mistake.
This statement was signed by the following persons: Mahmudal, Director General, from SMUR; Musliadi, Coordinator, from KAGEMPAR; Afian, Deputy Sec.Gen., from KARMA; Thamren Ananda, Sec.General, from FPDRA; Faurijal MP, Sec.General from Jeumpa Merah; Yasir, President, from Forum Rakyat; Ajes, Campaign Div., from SMAK; Muksin, Co-coordinator, from IMPEL; Jusri, President, from SPKP HAM; Reihan, President, from ORPAD; Ainal Mardiah from IPA; Rahma from Lampuan; Irfan from Bem. Syariah (IAIN); Farah from Perempuan Mardeka. Translation: M. Nur Djuli. For more information about the ALIANSIANTIKODAM (AAK – Anti Kodam Alliance), please contact: Tel/fax: 0651-33380, 0651-32055, 0651-34350.
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