Human rights violations have always been an element of the struggle for Acehan independence. It is difficult to determine the extent of the human rights abuses in Aceh. The government of Indonesia stopped allowing independent observers into the country in May of 2003, at this time martial law was also imposed upon Aceh. However the Indonesian government did not address any of the human rights abuses before May 2003. It can be assumed that the lack of pressure from nongovernmental organizations has not helped to improve the situation. Obviously, neither the Indonesian government nor the Acehan rebels admit that any human rights violations have occurred.

A nongovernmental organization called “Human Rights Watch” has made trips to Aceh in the past, and has found the conditions to be very dismal. There is a report of a woman who upon acting in a supposedly suspicious manner, was kidnapped by GAM members, and then killed. This is not a just punishment for merely being the wife of an Indonesian military officer. While the behavior of GAM in this instance is irreprehensible the reaction of the Indonesian military is no better. Though neither group admits to their actions there are numerous reports that as reparations for the death of the woman, the army killed two men from her village, and then burned down over one hundred houses and stores.

This is only one example of the terrible violations on the part of the warring groups in this northern province in Indonesia. There are many stories of beaten confessions, rape, murder, disappearances and a lack of a just court system.

Woman crying after Indonesian army burned her house down

Indonesian Soldiers and frightened women