Security in Aceh
The Indonesian Government refuses to let foreigners travel throughout Aceh, citing security concerns. That’s the same excuse they have used to hide human rights abuses in the past, and while the safety of aid workers will require some compromise, there is no reason why Australian and American troops can’t defend themselves. Unfortunately, they have agreed to disarm themselves, and place their trust in the corrupt and inhumane TNI. This does not sit well with Alexander Downer’s promise that the security of Australians is the “highest priority.”
The TNI has sponsored the arrival of anti-Western terrorist groups, even providing the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) with tents out of which to base their operations. The head of the FPI has already threatened violence, saying, “If anyone who comes here does not respect the shariah law, traditions and constitution, we must give them a a warning and then we must attack.” Tim Lindsey suggests that the greatest threat to foreigners comes from precisely these groups, working with the assistance of people at the fringes of both GAM and the TNI.
It’s time for John Howard to spend some of the political capital he bought with his generous assistance package. Australian troops are better armed and better trained than the Indonesians, so it makes sense that they help provide security for aid workers. Insistence that they remain unarmed — sitting ducks — is not in the best interest of the Acehnese or the aid workers helping them; it can only be the product of sinister motives. If Aceh is going to make any long-term progress, Australia needs to stand firm against the Indonesian military’s demands.
Update: This is very disappointing: “Mr Howard said he did not anticipate any requests for Australian help in military operations, nor would the government respond to such requests.” (My emphasis.)
For once, I agree completely. The troops should be armed, if only for their own protection.
What? Unarmed troops? We might as well send the population of a Darwin high school over instead.
Just goes to show how much Howard really cares about Asian interests.
Yes, I was thinking about that the other day when I was watching the news, too.
The only problem is, I really think it does make a difference to the local residents to not have hoardes of armed military personel wandering around their village. It is fairly intimidating, especially when we’re talking about humanitarian aid.
On the other hand, we’re specifically talking about Aceh here, and practically everyone faces considerable security risks…
Although, given that it is Aceh, making a promise to disarm might let Australia into areas from which it’s previously been excluded, which is IMHO a good thing for the protection of local residents.
I just don’t know about this one. It seems to be a quite complex issue.
“making a promise to disarm might let Australia into areas from which it’s previously been excluded”
Unfortunately, the fact that they are unarmed seems to be limiting the areas they can enter. They can only move with approval and assistance from the TNI.
If they were armed, loony lefties would start protesting about “imperialism”.
I thought I was a loony lefty? Make up your mind!
I think what Evil Pundit is trying to get across is that The Left is never satisfied with anything and to that I agree. However at the same time I agree with you that both Australian and US troops should be carrying their rifles for self-defence purposes.
With or without guns, if an allied soldier is shot either by a corrupt TNI soldier or a rebel then it’s gunna be on. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen.
If Aussie troops were permitted to carry weapons in Aceh it could arouse fear, not in the citizens but in the opposing forces – they want to strongly pervade that the reason they are there is a peaceful one, to administer aid to a devastated neighbouring country.
I imagine it would be very difficult to trust that as Australia is acting in good faith, that Australian citizens there will be treated with good faith.
Mass media beatups only exacerbate tensions and sensationalize and capitalize on fear.
Most Aussie troops would be adequately trained to defend themselves standing on their heads, blindfolded with their fingers up their noses anyway, but when they’re administering aid in whatever capacity they are much more vulnerable – that cannot be avoided, whether armed or not.
Arms are for hugging!