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"The darkest chapter in Indonesia's history" Grim evidence of the army's campaign against separatism in Aceh is only now being uncovered. Only now can the real grieving begin. These are almost certainly the remains of some of an estimated 2,000 victims of summary executions. Local people all knew about the mass graves but they say they were too frightened to talk about them. Village of widows It is difficult to imagine violent conflict taking place in a landscape
as beautiful as this one. Yet the villages around here have stories to
tell of extraordinary brutality at the hands of the Indonesian army. Treatment
they have endured for years in fear and silence.
Fifty-five-year-old Aisah now scrapes a living from making cheap mats. Her husband disappeared seven years ago, then the bodies of her son and daughter-in-law were discovered just outside the village - she does not understand why. "There are no words for how I feel - I feel so sad, so confused about what happened. But what can I do, God decides everything." In a neighbouring village, Yusuf Thaid, the village head remembers how
five bodies came to be buried in the graveyard.
Demands for a full investigation
(There has been) trauma, killing, missing people, rape - and these things
have all been happening for years and years." The army has spent nine years in Aceh trying to put down a small rebel movement. Ironically its actions may only have increased the desire for autonomy here. ( It is not true!) The military does now seem to recognise the danger. It has apologised and promised to pull the troops out. But that will not be enough to wipe out one of the darkest chapters in
Indonesian history. 24 dead in Indonesia as peace talks start Indonesia grants Aceh autonomy War of words erupts over Aceh killings International Aceh probe ruled out Words ring hollow for Aceh and Papua Megawati's Aceh overtures fall short Indonesian forces clash with Aceh rebels Indonesian activists under attack Indonesian civil rights workers are killed Aceh activist jailed for sedition Prosecutors demand jail for Aceh activist Violence spirals in troubled Aceh Acheh calls for Timor-style vote Aceh: Still dreaming of freedom Analisys: Indonesia's fragile archipelago Indonesian forces clash with Aceh rebels Aceh villagers find massgraves Eyewitness: Aceh campaigns for self-rule Aceh violence defies peace prediction Violence feared at Acheh rally Indonesia rules out Acheh independence Indonesia plans Aceh crackdown Army kills 18 in Aceh violence Riots reserve Aceh troops withdrawal Four die in Indonesia police raid ==================================
By: M. Yusuf Daud (The Jakarta Post, November 27, 1999 Editorial and Opinion) STOCKHOLM, Sweden (JP): The struggle of the oppressed peoples of the world for their right to self-determination has often been overshadowed by the notion of so-called "territorial integrity" and the principle of noninterference in the "internal affairs" of a sovereign state. |
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