Against Forgetting
ACEH IN APPLYING AS
MILITARY OPERATIONAL AREA (DOM)
Today, 15 years ago (May 19, 2003), the Government of Indonesia imposed a Military Emergency status in Aceh. Immediately, the earth of Serambi Mekkah was transformed into a field of war, thousands of lives hovering over the edge of the rifle. New strife ceased after the devastating tsunami disaster. ABOUT DOMESTIC HISTORY
Military Emergency Status for Aceh was officially enacted by Megawati Soekarnoputri Government on May 19, 2003.
After Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono announced Military Emergency at 00.00 WIB at that time, Aceh changed face.
Tens of thousands of TNI-Polri were sent to Aceh to hunt down thousands of guerrillas of Free Aceh Movement (GAM). Before the Military Emergency was enacted, Aceh had also been a Military Operation Area (DOM) from 1989 to 1998. The New Order ruler Soeharto sent many soldiers to Aceh for a Red Shared operation, pursuing a stigmatized Acehnese rebel with the Security Disturbance Movement (GPK) .
Military Emergency came into force after the collapse of hostilities between Coordination between the Government of Indonesia and GAM in 2003. Whereas before, Megawati had vowed to cry that she would not let another drop of blood be spilled in Aceh.
"I will not let a single drop of the blood of the people touch the Land of Rencong which is so great in making Indonesia independent," Mega promise in front of thousands of people of Aceh on July 30, 1999.
After the Military Emergency came into effect, the authorities arrested GAM negotiators such as Sofyan Ibrahim Tiba, Tengku Nasiruddin bin Ahmad, Amni bin Ahmad Marzuki, Teuku Kamaruzzaman, Teungku Muhammad Usman Lampoh Awe and Amdi bin Hamdani.
Aceh's condition is even more chaotic. Almost every day, TNI-Polri was involved in a firefight with GAM. The death toll continues to fall, most of them civilians. Arrest, abduction, torture, ill-treatment, arson occurred everywhere. "We are not aiming to prolong the old wounds, but we want that things do not happen again in the future"