No subject

shared with my two driving assistants, after being cut for food allowances." 

Trucks traveling through western parts of Aceh are not immune. 

The worst extortion was faced by trucks carrying logs as they could spend up to 
Rp 7.000,000 per one-way trip, a driver who wished to remain anonymous said. 

The extortions have forced truck operators in Aceh to raise the prices of cargo 
deliveries, which consequently increased the prices of commodities. 

The owner of a cargo transport company, who declined to be named, slammed the 
security force's methods, which had been occurring for a long time, saying he 
had to raise delivery charges to cover operational costs. 

There had been no clear effort to fight the extortions, or take action against 
the culprits. 

Since 2001, truck drivers and operators have staged strikes at least four times 
but the unlawful practices have continued unchecked. 

JSC officials pledged to move to stop the extortions after they verified the 
crimes in the field. 

Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Safzen Noerdin, an Indonesian serving with the JSC denied 
involvement of soldiers in the extortions. "I will talk with the Aceh police 
chief on this issue," he said. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Five bodies reported found in Indonesia's Aceh 
Sun Jan 19, 3:59 AM ET  (AP)

JAKARTA, Indonesia - Five bodies have been reported found in Indonesia's Aceh 
province where the government and separatist rebels signed a shaky peace 
agreement last month. 

Villagers in north Aceh refused to let the army remove two badly decomposed 
bodies that they had found on Sunday before foreign peace monitors could see 
them, military spokesman Yafit Yusuf said. 

Three bullet-ridden bodies washed onto a beach on Saturday near Bantayan 
village, which is also in North Aceh, said Tengku Agam, a spokesman for the 
rebel Free Aceh Movement. 

He said the bodies may been fishermen who were fatally shot by coast patrols on 
Friday. The army has denied any attack on Friday. 

Bodies have been discovered regularly since the government and rebels signed a 
peace pact on Dec. 9. Despite the violations, the peace agreement has reduced 
the amount of violence in the region and has been deemed a success by foreign 
peace monitors. 

Bantayan villagers said they would only allow the bodies to be removed by 
foreign monitors sent by the Henry Dunant Center, the Geneva-based conflict 
resolution group that brokered the peace deal, Yusuf said. 

The insurgents began fighting in 1976 for an independent state in the oil-and-
gas rich region, about 1,800 kilometers (1,100 miles) northwest of Jakarta. 
About 12,000 people have been killed in the past decade. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Jakarta Post.com
Headline News
January 20, 2003
Accountablity for violence key for peace in Maluku 
Ati Nurbaiti, Staff Writer, The Jakarta Post, Ambon

The makeshift market under the ruins of the former Mardika market was bustling 
on Jan. 19, the Sunday which marked the fourth anniversary of Maluku's 
devastating conflict. A "reflection" session had been planned at the quiet Al 
Fatah mosque and melodious hymns were heard from mass at Maranatha Church 
nearby. Working each day to get along, residents beyond the two symbols of what 
became a vicious divide, are on the watch out for "provocateurs" who they would 
blame for any further violence.

But unless the most demanding questions are resolved following massacres, 
destruction and forced eviction, citizens here would conclude that the state 
does not care that they are left to bear grudges toward one another despite all 
efforts at peace. Unlike the case of Aceh in which the state is clearly a party 
to the conflict, the unresolved question remains of who is responsible for the 
thousands who lost their homes and family members in Maluku since early 1999. 

There is still trust in the government. Many hope for a thorough follow up of 
police interrogations regarding the suspected association between a gang of 
hoodlums, the Christian Boys (Coker), and the Army's Special Forces, 
although "it is very embarrassing for Christians," says Father C. J. Bohm of 
the Catholic church here. Both Christians and Muslims wait for the answer to 
whether the association goes way back to the start of the violence in January 
1999, or even earlier incidents such as the clash on the isle of Dobo near the 
southern part of Papua. 

Investigation and prosecution of those responsible "would be consistent with 
the Malino Declaration," says Protestant youth leader John Ruhulessyn, citing 
the government-sponsored agreement signed in the Malino town in Central 
Sulawesi between the warring parties. Because the involvement of Coker is not 
entirely conclusive, he said, "we await the results of the independent 
investigating team" working on the Maluku clashes. 

The incident last Tuesday in which a homemade bomb hurt one passerby and 
injured two others, and in which another died of injuries due to an assault by 
locals, "is a sign that things are not quite conducive yet," he said. 

The suspected presence of "provocateurs" and fatigue over war has led to 
restraint following frequent bomb threats and explosions, particularly after 
the Malino deal was signed last Feb. 23. Casualties of each incident are 
considered unfortunate but eventually seen as an acceptable way "to let out 
anger" -- though activists and traditional leaders worry about people taking 
the law into their own hands. Three passing vehicles had their windows smashed 
last Tuesday and a vehicle of the Ambon diocese was set on fire following 
suspicions that the bomb was thrown from one of the passing vehicles. 

Although the suspicions regarding the Ambon-based gang have yet to be proved in 
court, the suggested involvement of a third party makes everyone a victim of 
the evil deeds of an outsider way beyond their grasp, in this case a state 
party, the special forces. 

Similarly the exit and disbanding of Laskar Jihad was news welcomed 
with "rejoicing," a resident said, who like many think the militia, like the 
Maluku Sovereignty Forum (FKM), which is associated with Christians, had 
worsened the conflict. 

A thorough follow up of investigations would settle doubts of whether the 
responsibility lies only on Coker and the special forces, or Laskar Jihad 
alone, for the violence of more than three years triggered by a squabble 
involving a public transport driver on Jan. 19, 1999. The respected ustadz or 
Islamic teacher Ali Fauzi is convinced that it was a well organized scheme of 
the Christians to massacre Muslims, perhaps because Muslims were becoming 
dominant in the economy and also the bureaucracy. 

Among advocates of peace, this has been the incorrect political view, a view 
the majority would wish to avoid. Yet it cannot be ignored, as it is echoed by 
others including those in the Muslim refugee camps. 

The elderly ustadz whose house was also set on fire says, "Who on earth wants 
to remain enemies forever? But making peace must remain a natural process and 
should not be imposed. And unless the government displays a will to get to the 
bottom of this, people can make peace all they want, but there can never be 
lasting peace." 

After the initial fight in that afternoon of January 1999 troops had arrived in 
a matter of hours in Ambon, hence many question how in the following days and 
months, so many military and police units, each involving their elite squads, 
failed to quell violence in the 10-kilometer-square town center -- violence 
which spread to other towns, villages and hamlets in the small island of Ambon 
and other tiny, remote dots on the Maluku map. 

Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, the Yogyakarta monarch and governor, who is helping to 
facilitate reconciliation among traditional Muslim and Christian leaders, 
represents those who express that prosecution may not be productive now, 
when "the awareness of Maluku people (for peace) is amazing". 

Bringing the guilty to justice is last on the list of a gradual process of the 
Baku Bae peace movement here, which earlier helped Muslim and Christian lawyers 
campaign for law enforcement and "demand responsibility from the state". The 
activists including former warlords of both sides in the conflict had said that 
peace was "a dirty word" in Maluku, given so many attempts at peace in contrast 
with continuous killings and arson which the authorities could not prevent. 

Hence initial, more feasible phases of peace making included the facilitation 
of social and economic rights such as setting up "neutral zones" for 
transaction spots, which started from seven brazen traders into the current 
market, and assisting access to education and health. 

Ali Fauzi thinks that the process coordinated by Ichsan Malik, a lecturer on 
conflict resolution at the University of Indonesia, who is trying similar 
attempts in other conflict areas, is "a waste of money". 

An activist of the Caring Women's Movement confirms that the word peace is 
avoided. "We just look out for each other, reminding our youngsters against 
provocation, and hold many activities together," said Ena Tatuhe, one of the 
Muslim women who set up the movement with Protestant and Catholic women. 

Father Bohm also says that religious leaders have not been able to talk 
explicitly about peace. Hence investigations must be conducted and justice 
done, he said. Despite the improving conditions, "if people feel they are 
deceived things may take a bad turn". He noted how people are "so easily 
influenced by their leaders", citing the crowds who greeted Alex Manuputty, the 
FKM leader who arrived here on Jan. 11 with National Police chief Gen. Dai 
Bachtiar. Manuputty is on trial for subversion in Jakarta. 

Father Bohm expresses appreciation for the man in charge of the civil emergency 
administration, Governor ad interim Sinyo Harry Sarundayang, who is "less 
confused" and "more daring" compared to predecessors. He adds he has "much 
confidence" in Coordinating Minister for Social Welfare Jusuf Kalla and 
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang 
Yudhoyono, who he says give the impression of having resolve in ending the 
Maluku strife. 

And while people are watching whether law enforcement will stop at sacrificing 
Berty, the Coker hoodlums, they expect local authorities to do a better job in 
maintaining law and order -- and they expect compassion. 

During a raid on motorists recently, a local shouted, "You stand by during 
massacres and raid us for papers!" 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Jakarta Post.com
National News
January 20, 2003
Maluku separatist leaders defy state order, demand expenses 
Aziz Tunny and Octovianus Pinontoan, The Jakarta Post, Ambon, Maluku

Maluku separatist leaders Alex Manuputty and Semmy Waeleruny have refused to 
return to Jakarta for their subversion trials unless the government pay them Rp 
210 million for living expenses in the capital.

The North Jakarta Prosecutor's Office last week ordered the pair to leave their 
homes in Ambon and return to Jakarta by Jan. 25, two days before their next 
court appointment on Jan. 27. 

The defendants, on trial for allegedly planning to hoist a separatist flag on 
the anniversary of the South Maluku Republic's (RMS) 52nd anniversary in April 
last year, skipped their latest date with the court on Jan. 13 after returning 
home two days earlier. 

The pair, who face around 30 individual hearing days spread over at least three 
months, were released from detention at National Police Headquarters on Dec. 
27. 

Alex and Semmy said they would only attend the trial at the North Jakarta 
District Court if the government paid their living expenses and transportation 
costs to and from the capital. 

"The trial is conducted by the state, so it must be responsible for our life in 
Jakarta. We will not return to Jakarta with our personal funds," Alex told The 
Jakarta Post in Ambon on Saturday. 

Their return to Ambon should not cause anxiety among the public as locals knew 
about the defendants' whereabouts, he said. 

"We returned to Ambon because it our home ... The government should understand 
this." 

Earlier, acting Maluku Governor Sinyo Harry Sarundajang warned that the 
presence of Alex and Semmy in Ambon could spark renewed violence in the 
troubled province, where the latest bomb blast last week tested a peace deal to 
end four years of sectarian conflict. 

The pair should not have returned home as it would have a negative impact on 
the local security situation and would cause anxiety, said Sinyo, who is also 
chief of the province's civil emergency authorities. 

Alex said they had submitted their request for two-months worth of expenses to 
the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights and the North Jakarta District Court. 

Copies of the letter were also presented to prosecutors handing their case, and 
the Maluku civil emergency authorities, he added. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Westerners trained at al-Qaida camps in Indonesia, official says 
Associated Press 
Jakarta, Indonesia, Jan. 17 

Seven men who appeared to be light-skinned foreigners trained at Indonesian 
terrorist camps organized by the al-Qaida network, an intelligence official 
said Friday.  

Al-Qaida provided money, weapons and explosives training for volunteers at 
jungle camps near Poso in Central Sulawesi province, said Muchyar Yara, 
assistant to the Chief of the Indonesian Intelligence Agency. 

Authorities believe at least 50 Indonesians attended the camps between March 
and November 2001 along with the seven men who appear to be from Western 
countries, Yara said. 

''Al-Qaida funded and provided weapons for these camps,'' Yara told The 
Associated Press. 

Each camp was believed to have two or three trainers, including one who was the 
son-in-law of Abdullah Sunkar, the alleged founder of Jemaah Islamiyah. 

Jemaah Islamiyah, which authorities have linked to al-Qaida, is allegedly 
responsible for the Oct. 12 bombings at nightclubs packed with foreign tourists 
on the island of Bali, killing 192 people. 

Yara said authorities do not know the nationalities of the seven apparent 
foreigners, who trained at one of the at least 10 jungle camps. 

He denied telling the Australian newspaper, The Age, that he had identified one 
of the men as Jack Thomas, a cab driver from Australia. 

Thomas, a 29-year-old Muslim convert from Melbourne, was arrested on Jan. 4 in 
Pakistan. He is being held on suspicion of terrorism links. 

In December 2001, Indonesia's Intelligence Chief Lt. Gen. Abdullah 
Hendropriyono claimed that al-Qaida had operated training camps in Sulawesi, 
but he quickly retracted the claim after the police and the military denied the 
existence of such camps. 

Last month, police in South Sulawesi said they had discovered three abandoned 
training camps where the alleged perpetrators of a deadly bombing of a 
McDonald's restaurant in December in Makassar, the provincial capital, trained 
for the attack. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~