The 2003–2004 Indonesian offensive in Aceh against the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatists was launched on 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.
On April 28, 2003, the Indonesian government issued an ultimatum to end the fighting and accept special autonomy for Aceh within two weeks. Free Aceh Movement (GAM) leaders based in Sweden refused the ultimatum, but the United States, Japan, and the European Union urged both sides to avoid armed conflict and resume peace talks in Tokyo. On May 16, 2003, the government stated that the offer of autonomy was the final concession it would make to GAM, and the rejection of the ultimatum would lead to military operations against the movement. GAM leaders and negotiators responded to this demand, and stated that its members in Aceh had been arrested while trying to leave for Tokyo.[citation needed]
After midnight on May 18, 2003, President Megawati Sukarnoputri gave the 12th Indonesian Military Chief, General Endriartono Sutarto, permission to commence military operations against the separatists. General Sutarto also imposed martial law in Aceh for a period of six months and the Indonesian government subsequently deployed 1,500 soldiers and 12,000 police to the province. This included a parachute landing by 458 paratroopers near Aceh airport.[4][5]
In June 2003, the government announced their intention to print a new ID card to distinguish all the people in Aceh from the rebels. NGOs and aid agencies were ordered to stop operations and leave the area and the government decreed that all assistance had to be coordinated through the government in Jakarta and the Indonesian Red Cross.[citation needed]
In May 2004, martial law in Aceh came to an end and the status of the conflict was downgraded to a civil emergency. Indonesian Coordinating Minister ad interim Hari Sabarno announced the change after a cabinet meeting on May 13, 2004. The government announced that they had made significant progress, and that during the operation thousands of GAM members had been killed, captured and surrendered.[citation needed]
Although martial law had been suspended, the military operations being conducted by the military continued. An estimated 2,000 people were killed during the fighting. According to Indonesian military sources, the majority of victims were soldiers, but international human rights groups and locals, including the government's human rights commission, claim that most of the victims were civilians. Evidence suggests that the military often does not distinguish between combatants, and non-combatants. Investigations also found GAM were responsible for the atrocities that occurred in Aceh.[citation needed]
Acehnese refugees in Malaysia have reported widespread abuses in Aceh, which was closed to observers during the military operation. The trial of members of the Indonesian military is considered difficult,[clarification needed] and trials that have occurred have only involved low-ranking soldiers.[citation needed]
Referencesedit
^"Chronology of important events in Indonesia's Aceh". People's Daily Online. August 15, 2005. Archived from the original on 2013-01-01.
^. Human Rights Watch. December 18, 2003. Archived from the original on 2004-01-13.
^ . Archived from the original on 28 October 2008. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
^Djuhari, Lely T. (May 19, 2003). "Indonesia Goes After Aceh Rebels". CBS News. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
^"Major Military Attack Unfolds Against Rebels in Indonesia". The New York Times. Associated Press. 20 May 2003. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
External linksedit
Aceh Under Martial Law: Inside the Secret War (HRW report)
December 20, 2023
2003, 2004, indonesian, offensive, aceh, against, free, aceh, movement, separatists, launched, 2003, lasted, nearly, year, followed, week, ultimatum, accept, special, autonomy, under, indonesian, rule, indonesian, military, largest, campaigns, since, 1975, inv. The 2003 2004 Indonesian offensive in Aceh against the Free Aceh Movement GAM separatists was launched on 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 2003 2004 Indonesian offensive in AcehPart of the Insurgency in Aceh 1976 2005 Location of Aceh in IndonesiaDateMay 19 2003 May 13 2004LocationAceh IndonesiaResultPeace treaty in Helsinki Indonesian political and military victoryBelligerents IndonesiaFree Aceh MovementCommanders and leadersMegawati Sukarnoputri Endriartono Sutarto Susilo Bambang YudhoyonoHasan di Tiro Muzakir Manaf Abdullah Syafi i Strength42 000 1 5 000 2 Casualties and lossesApproximately 2 000 rebel fighters killed 3 Contents 1 Background 2 Military operations 3 References 4 External linksBackground editOn April 28 2003 the Indonesian government issued an ultimatum to end the fighting and accept special autonomy for Aceh within two weeks Free Aceh Movement GAM leaders based in Sweden refused the ultimatum but the United States Japan and the European Union urged both sides to avoid armed conflict and resume peace talks in Tokyo On May 16 2003 the government stated that the offer of autonomy was the final concession it would make to GAM and the rejection of the ultimatum would lead to military operations against the movement GAM leaders and negotiators responded to this demand and stated that its members in Aceh had been arrested while trying to leave for Tokyo citation needed Military operations editMain article Insurgency in Aceh After midnight on May 18 2003 President Megawati Sukarnoputri gave the 12th Indonesian Military Chief General Endriartono Sutarto permission to commence military operations against the separatists General Sutarto also imposed martial law in Aceh for a period of six months and the Indonesian government subsequently deployed 1 500 soldiers and 12 000 police to the province This included a parachute landing by 458 paratroopers near Aceh airport 4 5 In June 2003 the government announced their intention to print a new ID card to distinguish all the people in Aceh from the rebels NGOs and aid agencies were ordered to stop operations and leave the area and the government decreed that all assistance had to be coordinated through the government in Jakarta and the Indonesian Red Cross citation needed In May 2004 martial law in Aceh came to an end and the status of the conflict was downgraded to a civil emergency Indonesian Coordinating Minister ad interim Hari Sabarno announced the change after a cabinet meeting on May 13 2004 The government announced that they had made significant progress and that during the operation thousands of GAM members had been killed captured and surrendered citation needed Although martial law had been suspended the military operations being conducted by the military continued An estimated 2 000 people were killed during the fighting According to Indonesian military sources the majority of victims were soldiers but international human rights groups and locals including the government s human rights commission claim that most of the victims were civilians Evidence suggests that the military often does not distinguish between combatants and non combatants Investigations also found GAM were responsible for the atrocities that occurred in Aceh citation needed Acehnese refugees in Malaysia have reported widespread abuses in Aceh which was closed to observers during the military operation The trial of members of the Indonesian military is considered difficult clarification needed and trials that have occurred have only involved low ranking soldiers citation needed References edit Chronology of important events in Indonesia s Aceh People s Daily Online August 15 2005 Archived from the original on 2013 01 01 Indonesia Refugees Reveal Widespread Abuses in Aceh Human Rights Watch December 18 2003 Archived from the original on 2004 01 13 KAIROS Conflict in Aceh Archived from the original on 28 October 2008 Retrieved 3 September 2014 Djuhari Lely T May 19 2003 Indonesia Goes After Aceh Rebels CBS News Retrieved 26 August 2018 Major Military Attack Unfolds Against Rebels in Indonesia The New York Times Associated Press 20 May 2003 Retrieved 26 August 2018 External links editAceh Under Martial Law Inside the Secret War HRW report Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 2003 2004 Indonesian offensive in Aceh amp oldid 1178377833, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
