From: Muhammad Nazar <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: SIRA REPORT ON THE MASSACRE IN EAST ACEH, SUMATERA SIRA REPORT ON THE MASSACRE IN EAST ACEH [This is the most detailed and comprehensive account of the Julok massacre seen by TAPOL. While not being able to endorse the contents, TAPOL fully supports the call by SIRA for an independent investigation into the massacre and for measures to be taken to safeguard the lives of the wounded, the survivors and others in the area who are now at risk. TAPOL also strongly endorses the call on GAM not to take retaliatory action; we also urge GAM to take note of the consequences on the local population of such attacks on TNI positions.] The following is a summary of a six-page report, received at the weekend, from SIRA, Information Centre for a Referendum in Aceh, prepared by its Data and Investigation Commission: While waiting for more detailed information from the site of the massacre, here is a preliminary report containing a chronology of the events leading up to and following the massacre which occurred on the premises of the PT Bumi Flora Plantation. In the opening paragraphs, the report goes into some detail about that location of the plantation and explaining that it is actually situated in Banda Alam sub-district. Although the owners of the plantation have not yet been identified, the plantation is known to employ a mixture of native Acehnese and transmigrant Javanese.. Most of the Acehenese employed are residents of East Aceh. The Javanese account for the majority of the workforce. In fact, the Javenese also comprise the majority of people who live in the sub-districts Julok, anda Alam and Idi Rayeuk. Since the start of the Operation to Uphold Security and Law (OKPH), there has been a marked increase in the number of TNI/Polri (armed forces and police) non-organic troops located in the vicinity of the plantation. Local people are well aware in particular of the presence of a non-organic TNI post which has been set up in Alue le Mirah Plantation IV, in Julok sub-district. Many of the workers are unskilled laborers who plant and tend the palm oil owned by the plantation. SIRA investigators also discovered that most of the Javanese inhabitants and employees living in the villages close to the plantation have received regular briefings from the non-organic troops advising them to oppose GAM and the Acehnese people, while some have also been trained as militias. The situation resembles the situation in Central Aceh where a massacre also occurred against people suspected of being pro-GAM. Chronology Wednesday, 8 August 2001 GAM guerrillas under the command of Ridwan Abu Bakar, operational commander for the district of Peureulak (GAM uses different names for the districts and sub-districts) launched an attack on the non-organic TNI post near the Bumi Flora plantation. Twenty soldiers were killed in the attack; GAM forces suffered no losses and returned safely to their base. Following this attack, the atmosphere was very tense; in the afternoon, the security forces evacuated the bodies of their men. People working at the plantation were very scared indeed and a few of the Acehnese who were afraid of retaliation managed to move away to relatives in neighboring sub-districts as they know that villagers frequently become the target of attack by the TNI, following an attack on their positions by GAM. Even before the GAM attack occurred, TNI officers had been warning the local people that, should GAM launch an attack, all the civilians in the area would be killed. Thursday, 9 August 2001, at about 9.30 am Two truckloads of non-organic TNI troops arrived, followed by several more truckloads of troops. SIRA investigators have not been able to identify the units of these troops or to determine how many troops were involved. They may also have been reinforced by Brimob troops, but this cannot yet be confirmed. The non-organic troops surrounded the plantation area. At the time, the plantation employees were collecting their wages. The troops forced their way into the barracks where the people live and said that the Acehnese among the workforce should be identified. The Javanese employees helped to identify the Acehnese. While this was happening, the troops confiscated the wages the Acehnese employees had just collected. They then rounded up 50 Acehnese who were ordered to gather outside in a field. Women were separated from the men by a distance of 20 metres. The men (Including a two and a half year old boy) were told to get in line and to strip. An officer then told them that the day before, more than 70 of their men had been shot dead by GAM guerrillas and asked the men to give information about the GAM attackers. But none of them knew anything about it. Then the soldiers apologised for what they were about to do, saying that they had to take revenge for the killing of their comrades. Dozens of TNI soldiers then opened fire, killing more than thirty of the men and injuring several others. They also aimed their weapons at the women, among whom were several children. One of the men managed to escape and fled the scene. After the killings, the troops made sweeps in villages near the plantation and arrested every Acehnese they found. They were beaten and taken to an army post. We do not know where they were taken or how many people were taken. 13.30pm The troops left the scene of the massacre 14.00pm Red Cross volunteers and people from the Idi Rayeuk medical center started to evacuate the bodies and the wounded and took them to the Idi Rayeuk medical centre and the Langsa hospital. This was not completed until 19.45pm. Within hours, the security forces were disseminating news to the mass media and others that GAM was responsible for the massacre. [The report mentions here the names of local civilian officials who assisted the security forces at this stage.] Friday, 10 August 2001 Events ongoing up to the time this report was finalised: Troops and intelligence officers have set up guard round the hospital and medical centre where the dead and wounded were taken to prevent information from being spread by relatives of the victims. The relatives have been warned not to report anything about the massacre and are being warned to say that GAM was responsible. The military are closely guarding the wounded people and their relatives. Anyone entering the hospital is closely checked and visitors and not being allowed to visited the wounded. Meanwhile four armoured vehicles and 8 transport trucks have been sent to the plantation area and to the nearby villages; villagers are being warned to say that GAM was responsible. Most of the dead are from East Aceh or North Aceh. The report gives the names of the dead and wounded. In conclusion, SIRA says that although their report is still far from complete, they call upon all sides, especially humanitarian and human rights organisations, especially international organisations to: 1. Call on the Indonesian government to withdraw all non-organic troops from Aceh. 2. To all governments and the UN to intervene in Aceh on humanitarian grounds and to stop all political, economic and military aid to the Indonesian government. 3. To conduct an independent investigation into this massacre. 4. Take action to save and protect the wounded, witnesses and others who have survived. And to take measures to prevent such a thing from happening again, and to prevent military reprisals by the GAM guerrillas against the TNI/Polri security forces. TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign 111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath, Croydon CR7 8HW, UK. tel +44 020 8771 2904 fax +44 020 8653 0322 [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.gn.apc.org/tapol From: "M.N.Djuli" To: "muhamed elnazary" Subject: SIRA's PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE JULOK MASSACRE Date: Mon, 13 Aug 2001 00:10:37 +0800 ACEH REFERENDUM INFORMATION CENTRE Office : Jl. T. Panglima Polem No. 62 Banda Aceh - Sumatera Tel / Fax : 62.651.24043 � EMail : [EMAIL PROTECTED] or [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Urgent Report on Preliminary Investigation: THE MASSACRE IN EAST ACEH PRELIMINARY REPORT While waiting for a more detailed and comprehensive report, The Data Collection and Investigation Commission of Aceh Referendum Information Centre (SIRA) is releasing herewith a brief report on the chronology or the situation leading to the massacre that has just taken place within the perimeter of the "Afdeling IV" plantation complex owned "PT. Bumi Flora". The plantation site of this Ltd Company is spread over three Sub-Districts of Idi Rayek, Julok and Banda Alam, East Aceh. EXACT LOCATION In the Indonesian adminsitrative 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 Aceh (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 Aceh - 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 Acehnese, especially those from East Aceh. 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. Accordiang 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 Acehnese. 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 Aceh, which also has produced several massacres recently of Acehnese and Gayos whom the military accused of having aided GAM. CHRONOLOGY According to eyewitnesses, the incident started on Wednesdat, 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 Acehnese 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 Acehnese, 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 Aceh District) arrived at the Afdeling IV site. These troops were aided by other units of TNI stationed all over East Aceh. 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 Acehnese while the Javanese helped by pointing out which were which. The troops also robbed money from the Acehnese workers. Some 50 Acehnese 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 whereabout 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 Acehnese they met. The detainees were brutalized and taken to their different posts all over East Aceh. 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 Aceh 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 Aceh, 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 Aceh 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: 1. H. Helmi Mahera al Mujahid, from Idi Rayeuk, former member of the local Parliament (DPRD) during the New Order regim, 2. Drs. Syarifuddin Latief, former Mayor of Langsa in the New Order regim, 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 agenst 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 itelligent 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 guerilles 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 soldeirs 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: 1. Abdullah, 24, from Jambo Reuhat village, Idi Rayeuk. 2. Abdurrahman, 45, from Panton Labu, North Aceh. 3. Amiruddin, age unknown, from Bagok Ulee Gajah village, East Aceh. 4. Darmansyah, 35, from Afdeling IV. 5. Edi Syahputra, 17, from Jambo Reuhat village, Idi Rayeuk. 6. Efendi, age unknown, from Bagok village. 7. Hasrawi, 18, from Blang Rambong village, Keude Geureubak, Banda Alam. 8. Hendrawan, 4, from Panton Labu, North Aceh. 9. Ilyas, 20, from Seuneubok Teungoh, Idi Cut. 10. Ilyas, 35, from Afdeling IV. 11. Ilyas Yunus, 34, from Afdeling IV. 12. Indrawan, 35, from Panton Labu, North Aceh. 13. Ismail, 25, from Jambo Reuhat, Idi Rayek. 14. Iswani, 25, from Keude Dua, Idi Rayeuk. 15. Kamaruddin, infant of 2 1/2, from Blang Rambong, Keude Geureubak, Banda Alam. 16. Mahyuddin, 17, from Jambo Reuhat, Idi Rayek. 17. M. Cut Ali, 26, from Matang Kuli, North Aceh. 18. M. Jamil, 30, origine unknown. 19. M. Nasir Abubakar, 43, from Panton Labu, North Aceh. 20. M. Nasir Sabil, 25, from Matang Kuli. 21. Mustafa Basyah, age unknown, from Rantau Panyang, Peureulak, East Aceh. 22. M. Yunus, 25, from Jambo Reuhat, Idi Rayeuk. 23. M. Yusuf, 60, from Blang Rambong, Keude Geureubak, 24. Ridwan, 42, from Panton Labu, North Aceh. 25. Saifullah Yahya, age unknown, from Peureulak East Aceh. 26. Samsul Bahri, 20, from Panton Labu, 27. Samsul Bahri Usman, 25, from Matang Kuli. 28. Samsul Bahri Yahya, age unknown, from Simpang Ulim, 29. Sofyan, 29, from Beuringen, Peureulak. 30. Sulaemansyah Putra, age unknown, from Seuneubok, Simpang, Idi Cut. 31. Usmani, age unknown, from Panton Labu. IN CRITICAL CONDITION: 1. Abdurrahim, 20, (no other information is available) 2. Ihsan, 27, from Teupin U, Matang Kuli. 3. M. Halim, 19, from Teupin U. 4. M. Jafar, 26, from Teupin U. 5. Nasruddin, 23, from Teupin U. 6. Saiful, 21 from Teupin U. 7. Ti Salma, female, 28, from Teupin U. 8. Zulbahri, 19, from Teupin U. Up to now no information is available on the number or the whereabout of those arrested and taken away by TNI troops after the massacre. According to eyewitnesses who declined to be named, there were dozens, soem say hundreds of Acehnese arrested and taken away that day. Althoug 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: 1. Pressure the Indonesian government to immediately pullout all non-organic TNI/Polri troops from Aceh and to stop all forms of military operations, especially the OKPH that has produced several massacres within a very short time. 2. Pressure the international community and the United Nations to carry out human rights, security, and political interventions in Aceh; and to stop all forms of political, economic and military assistance to the Indonesian government 3. 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 Aceh 4. Participate in the protection of the survivors, witnessess 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 Acehnese people in fighting for the rights. Banda Aceh, Augus 11, 2001 The Presidium Council of the Aceh 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 gatherred 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 Aceh. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
