Jakarta (AsiaNews/Agencies) – On the eve of the end to the martial law imposed last May 19 in Aceh to stop a wave of violence sparked by Free Aceh Movement (FAM) separatist rebels, Amnesty International reported cases of police and military personnel committing serious human rights violations while "terrorizing" civilians. 

Amnesty International reported cases of torture, executions, and harassment, when stating that "people have be terrorized by the numerous cases of murder and threats of arrest, torture and abuse."

According to Bonas Tigor Naipospos, an activist working for group of NGOs in Aceh, half of the victims in the massacres were ordinary citizens.    

Another human rights activist by the name of Munir said: "95% of those in prison are not FAM militants, but NGO staff members, local political leaders and students."

Amnesty International affirmed that there is clear proof that many of the prisoners "have been sentenced based on their religious belonging and been extorted while undergoing torture." Amnesty International says that the torture methods, conducted by police and military personnel, included electric shock treatment, cigarette burns and brutal beatings. 

After having imposed martial law, Indonesian authorities launched an offensive by invading the province, where civil war has gone on for 30 years and led to about 12,000 deaths. The invasion put 40,000 soldiers up against 5000 FAM militia.

Tourists have been prohibited from entering the province, while journalists and humanitarian aid officials work there under severe restrictions.

Army officials have said that 1963 guerrilla soldiers have been killed, while 2100 have been arrested and 1276 surrendered.

Aceh is the only province in Indonesia where Islamic law is in effect (since 2002). On March 3, 2003 a presidential decree instituted the Shariah court system.

The province's governor, Abdullah Puteh, said courts will apply Islamic law "moderately and gradually", while assuring that there is no wish to violate human rights.  

Jakarta allowed the province to partially introduce Islamic law two years ago along with a set of laws granting it relative autonomy in order to slow down the advances of the FAM separatist movement. (MR)

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