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Commander in Aceh denies torture claims

Indonesia's military commander in Aceh Province yesterday denied persistent allegations that his troops were torturing civilians, but said that beating suspected rebels was acceptable so long as they were not seriously hurt.

In an interview, Major General Bambang Darmono also claimed that the 35,000 soldiers deployed in the oil- and gas-rich province were winning one of Asia's longest running and bloodiest wars.

"We are winning the hearts and minds of the Acehnese," said Darmono, who on Saturday is scheduled to be replaced as military commander in the region as part of a regular rotation. "They won't help the rebels now."

Jakarta launched its latest crackdown against the rebels in May and imposed martial law after peace talks that had led to a six-month ceasefire with the insurgents collapsed.

On Nov. 6, the government announced the operation would continue for another six months. Rights groups warned the decision would likely fuel the rebellion, one of several that threaten to divide the sprawling archipelago. Early campaigns in Aceh against the 27-year-long insurgency were marked by military rights abuses that alienated the region's 4.3 million people.

In an admission likely to alarm local and foreign rights groups, Darmono said beating suspected rebels was acceptable behavior.

"For example, my soldier slugs a suspect across the face. That's no problem. As long as he is able to function after the questioning. If it's gross torture which causes someone to be incapacitated ... that's a no no," he said.

In the first week of the latest offensive, several villagers said that troops had gunned down unarmed people they suspected were rebels.

Allegations have continued. Syarifah Murlina, from Aceh's Legal Aid Foundation, said that 80 alleged rebels the group is representing "have said they suffered some form of abuse during their questioning both by the military and police."

Darmono insisted that accusations against soldiers were untrue and that the accusers were "lying."

"This is a very, very small percentage" of the 35,000 troops deployed to the province, he said, insisting that most soldiers were clean. "It's nothing."

Since the crackdown began, the military has killed more than 1,000 people it claims were insurgents, and captured at least 2,000 more. The rebels deny this, and allege most of those killed have been ordinary villagers.

Murlina said many detainees claimed to have only bought coffee for rebels, attended a few meetings with insurgents or helped bury suspected insurgents.
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