Indonesia: whose side are you on?

[chequita guevara]

Atjeh is a mineral rich part of the Javan Empire . . . er, Indonesia. It has oil and gas and is the source of Sumatran coffee. Like Irian Jaya (West Papua, i.e. New Guinea), the wealth generated by the province is appropriated by the Javans and very little is returned to the provinces. Atjeh produces 11% of Indonesia's wealth, but gets only .035% of government spending.

According to NPR this morning, the last time the Javans attacked the Atjeh rebels, 10,000 people died, most of them non-combatants. 25,000 soldiers (with embedded reporters) and 15 warships have been sent to Atjeh.

[Az]

Long Live the Javan Empire!

[The Mad Monk]

If this ball "belongs" to anyone, it's the Aussies. Let them make the call, we'll watch their back.


















Yes, yes, I know, we'll verify targets this time, I promise.

[Japher]

Great threadjack Sloww

[VetLegion]

The thing I read is that most of oil rights in the area belong to Exxon. So, could this be their mess in any way?

To everybody thinking of 'pacifying' Indonesia, it has larger population then Russia, so that would not be really easy.

And my thoughts are, fair is fair, they should get their independance, sharia or not.

[Ramo]

Saying that the Islamist GAM and the rest of the pro-independence people is the same thing is totally absurd. Only the thuggish elements are Islamist (or secular, if you're referring to the Indonesian military, police, and militias). Indonesia has been doing in Aceh pretty much the same thing it used to be doing to East Timor - "disappearances," rape, torture, etc. And it labels everyone who oppose them (SIRA, etc.) as part of GAM, so has pretty much a free hand internationally.

And I'm for the liberty of the people of Aceh; **** GAM and the Indonesian state.

[Ramo]

The thing I read is that most of oil rights in the area belong to Exxon. So, could this be their mess in any way?

Exxon hired parts of the Indonesian military as their security force. On their job, Exxon's "security" had been complicit in murders, tortures, kidnappings, etc. of prominent civic leaders and humanitarian workers.

[Cruddy]

Ouzo = good hooch. Shame I don't drink anymore.

Blowed if I got the answer. It seems a case of Muslim fascists fighting Muslim separatists. Spot the good guy? I can't.

Banana for me.

[Az]

the ...fascists are not muslim clerical.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Azazel
the ...fascists are not muslim clerical.

Both sides are Muslim. Megawati's a darn site better than her predecessor, the blind cleric, and he better than forty-year dictator, Suharto. Still, the Indonesian armed forces have way too much power in Indonesia. The offensive began even before peace talks in Tokyo collapsed.

[Az]

Both sides are Muslim.

The government of Turkey is muslim too. But these are totally different. I agree that the military has too much power in Indonesia, but this doesn't nullify that the other side is worse.

[Urban Ranger]

Where is the "neither side" option? Both of them are bastards.

[Frankychan]

Squash the rebel's!

[GeneralTacticus]

No idea, really. I certainly don't want to see GAM implementing Sharia... but nor do I want to see a second East Timor.

Oh, and I think this case rather demonstrates the hypocrisy of people like Downer claiming that Iraq being a sovereign state didn't excuse Saddam's crimes; he's ruled out any kind of intervention on the gorunds that it's their business, not ours.

[Skanky Burns]

Double-standards in politics? Well, I never!