2003–2004 Indonesian offensive in Aceh

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=2003–2004 Indonesian offensive in Aceh


caption=Location of Aceh in Indonesia
partof=the Insurgency in Aceh (1976–2005)
date=May 19 2003 – May 13 2004
place=Aceh, Indonesia
result= Decisive Indonesian victory
combatant1=flag|Indonesia
combatant2=
commander1=flagicon|Indonesia Megawati Soekarnoputri
flagicon|Indonesia Endriartono Sutarto
commander2=
strength1=42,000 [ [http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200508/15/eng20050815_202565.html People's Daily Online - Chronology of important events in Indonesia's Aceh ] ]
strength2=5,000 [ [http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2003/12/17/indone6692.htm Indonesia: Refugees Reveal Widespread Abuses in Aceh (Human Rights Watch, 18-12-2003) ] ]
casualties1=
casualties2=
casualties3=2,000 dead (mostly civilians) [ [http://www.kairoscanada.org/e/countries/indonesia/background.asp KAIROS-Conflict in Aceh ] ] The 2003–2004 Indonesian offensive in Aceh against the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatists was launched May 19, 2003 and lasted nearly one year. It followed a two-week ultimatum to GAM to accept special autonomy under Indonesian rule. It was one of the Indonesian military's largest campaigns since the 1975 invasion of East Timor. It severely disabled the rebel movement, and along with the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake brought the 30-year conflict in Aceh to an end.

Background

On 28 April, 2003, the government gave a two-week ultimatum to GAM to end resistance and accept special autonomy within unitary state of Indonesia. GAM refused to heed the ultimatum. The United States, Japan and the European Union urged the Indonesian government and GAM to avoid armed clashes and extend peace talks in Tokyo. [ [http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200508/15/eng20050815_202565.html People's Daily Online - Chronology of important events in Indonesia's Aceh ] ]

On 16 May, 2003, the government repeated that special autonomy was their final offer, otherwise GAM would face military action. GAM negotiators did not respond to the demand on grounds that their fellow men were arrested in Aceh on their way to Tokyo. [ [http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200508/15/eng20050815_202565.html english.peopledaily.com.cn] ]

The offensive

Just after midnight May 18, 2003 President Megawati Sukarnoputri gave the go-ahead for the offensive against the rebels. [ [http://www.rumormillnews.com/cgi-bin/archive.cgi/noframes/read/32311 Indonesia'S Military Begins Big Aceh Offensive ] ] She imposed martial law in Aceh and declared military emergency for a six-month period. The government deployed around 30,000 soldiers and 12,000 police officers to Aceh. [ [http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200508/15/eng20050815_202565.html People's Daily Online - Chronology of important events in Indonesia's Aceh ] ]

In June, the Indonesian government announced their intention to make all occupants of the Aceh region carry ID cards in an effort to distinguish between rebels and civilians. NGOs and aid organizations were told to halt operations and exit the country. The government announced all aid was to be coordinated through Jakarta, and distributed through local government and the Indonesian Red Cross. [ [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/aceh.htm Free Aceh Movement ] ]

In May 2004, the military emergency was changed into a civil emergency. [ [http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200508/15/eng20050815_202565.html People's Daily Online - Chronology of important events in Indonesia's Aceh ] ] Indonesia's acting security minister Hari Sabarno announced the much-anticipated move after a regular cabinet meeting May 13, 2004. The government claimed several significant advances, with thousands of members of the Free Aceh Movement killed, captured or surrendered. [ [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/aceh.htm Free Aceh Movement ] ]

Allegations of human rights abuses

Although martial law was downgraded to a state of civil emergency, military operations continued and approximately 2,000 people have been killed since May 2003. While the military claimed that most casualties are GAM combatants, Indonesian and international human right groups, including the government’s own human rights commission, assert that most of the dead and tortured are civilians. Evidence was reported that the military often did not distinguish between GAM members and non-combatants. Investigations also showed that while the GAM is also guilty of atrocities, the majority of human rights violations against the civilian population are committed by Indonesian security forces. [ [http://www.kairoscanada.org/e/countries/indonesia/background.asp KAIROS-Conflict in Aceh ] ]

Acehnese refugees interviewed in Malaysia revealed widespread abuses in the Indonesian province, which has been effectively closed to observers during the offensive. [ [http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2003/12/17/indone6692.htm Indonesia: Refugees Reveal Widespread Abuses in Aceh (Human Rights Watch, 18-12-2003) ] ]

It has been virtually impossible to bring to trial any member of the Indonesian military. In the few cases where trials have taken place, they have involved lower-ranking soldiers who have argued that they were simply following orders. [ [http://www.kairoscanada.org/e/countries/indonesia/background.asp KAIROS-Conflict in Aceh ] ]

References

External links

* [http://hrw.org/reports/2003/indonesia1203/ Aceh Under Martial Law: Inside the Secret War] (HRW report)