Indonesia: Religous War, Insurgency and Martial Law Threats

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Indonesia: Religous War, Insurgency and Martial Law Threats

AP via Times of India - Dec 4, 2001
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?art_ID=392800454


Govt considers martial law for Sulawesi 

JAKARTA, Indonesia: The government is considering imposing a state of
emergency on parts of Sulawesi island where thousands of people have
fled their homes amid fighting between Christians and Muslims, news
reports said on Tuesday.

Meanwhile in Aceh, another troublespot located on the northern tip of
Sumatra island, six people were killed as separatists marked the 25th
anniversary of their struggle for independence from Indonesian rule.

The victims, all suspected rebels, died in clashes with government
troops, said Lt. Col. Firdaus Komarno, a spokesman for the security
forces. He said three soldiers were injured.

Eyewitnesses in the provincial capital, Banda Aceh, said security
forces tore down separatist flags flying around the city, but there
were no reports of violence.

In central Sulawesi _ which has been wracked by two years of fighting
between Christians and Muslims _ police and soldiers continued to
patrol remote villages as residents prepared for an escalation of
violence.

People in the Christian town of Tentena said residents were readying
their weapons for attacks by Muslims who have surrounded the village.

In other parts of the region, Muslims fled their homes fearing
attacks by Christians, police said.

Top security minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, military commander
Adm. Widodo Adisutjipto and police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar are
scheduled to visit the region on Wednesday.

Yudhoyono was quoted by The Jakarta Post newspaper as saying the
government would decide after the visit whether it would declare
martial law in an attempt to end the fighting.

He said about 2,000 extra soldiers and police would be dispatched to
the area.

Human rights activists have accused the government of doing too
little to end the bloodshed.

Fighting between Muslim and Christian villagers in Sulawesi, about
1,600 kilometers northeast of Jakarta, has claimed at least 1,000
lives in the last two years. Some human rights groups say as many as
2,000 may have died.

After petering out earlier this year, the fighting flared again in
the last few weeks. At least eight people have been killed in the
past week.

A Muslim paramilitary group, Laskar Jihad, has been accused of
stoking the latest violence.

In Aceh, the rebel Free Aceh Movement has been fighting for an
independent homeland since December 4, 1976. Fighting has left
thousands dead, including more than 1,300 this year.

President Megawati Sukarnoputri has ordered the security forces to
crush the insurgents.

``I call on all Acehnese ... to continue our holy struggle against
Indonesian rule,'' said a statement released by rebel leader Hasan
Tiro, who lives in exile in Sweden. (AP)


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