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Crimes against humanity in Rumoh Geudong case: Komnas HAM

The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has found strong evidence of crimes against humanity in the Rumoh Geudong case in Pidie, Aceh, which lasted from 1989 to 1998, implicating the Army’s Special Forces (Kopassus)

Gemma Holliani Cahya (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Fri, September 7, 2018

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Crimes against humanity in Rumoh Geudong case: Komnas HAM

T

he National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has found strong evidence of crimes against humanity in the Rumoh Geudong case in Pidie, Aceh, which lasted from 1989 to 1998, implicating the Army’s Special Forces (Kopassus).

The report, which has been handed over to the Attorney General’s Office (AGO), was a document long-awaited by victims and their families after decades of physical and mental suffering.

Rumoh Geudong in Billie Aron village was the former headquarters of Kopassus during the period of military operations in Aceh. Residents also referred to the building as the “slaughter house”.

Even though Komnas HAM does not have the precise number of victims, it is believed that over hundreds of men and women were brought by Kopassus members to the building to be questioned about their alleged involvement in the Aceh Freedom Movement (GAM).

Some of them never returned.

Dozens of posts similar to Rumoh Geudong were also found across Pidi, including in Ulee Gle, Pintu Satu Tiro and Ujung Leubat villages. All posts were connected. Sometimes victims would be taken to several posts before they were transported to Rumah Geudong, or vice versa.

Komnas HAM revealed that Rumah Geudong was the main post, with the most victims recorded.

Komnas HAM commissioner Choirul Anam, who led the ad hoc team, said in a press conference in Jakarta on Thursday that the team had found several elements of serious human rights abuses.

The team, which interviewed 65 witnesses from different locations, identified five recurring crimes during the period: rapes and other forms of sexual abuse, torture, murder, deprivation of independence or physical freedom and forced disappearance.

Komnas HAM said the findings had served as adequate evidence to support allegations that the series of abuses fulfilled elements of “crimes against humanity” according to Article 7 of Law No. 26/2006 on human rights ad hoc tribunal.

“These crimes were part of [systematic] attacks against civilians while implementing policies introduced by [central] authorities […] it was done systematically and massively,” Choirul said.

He added: “We have proved that this was carried out through policies by the [central] authorities. Thus, military commanders were responsible for this. Subsequently, personnel in the field were also responsible.”

Choirul emphasized the importance of closely watching the development of the case after it handed over the document to the AGO.

Another Komnas HAM commissioner, Munafrizal Manan, called on the AGO to be thorough while handling the case.

“I really hope the AGO will be serious in handling this case. If later we find out that they are unwilling or unable to proceed with this case, then we will bring the case to an international forum. However, we don’t wish to do so,” he said.

In October 1998, the House of Representatives reported that it had received over 1,700 reports of alleged human rights violations, including 426 cases of missing people and 320 cases of killings across Aceh.

Komnas HAM, which started its first investigation into past abuses in Aceh, also in 1998, recorded 781 deaths, 163 disappearances, 368 cases of torture and 102 rape cases allegedly committed by members of the military during operations between 1989 and 1998.

In 2014, Prabowo Subianto, the former Kopassus chief who was in charge during the period, had made a public apology over what happened in Aceh.

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