TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A coalition of Indonesian civil society groups has condemned what it described as repressive actions and the use of violence by Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) personnel against civilians in North Aceh, warning that the incident risks undermining constitutional rights and reviving past trauma in the conflict-prone region.
The incident occurred on Thursday, December 25, 2025, when residents staged a public protest linked to dissatisfaction over the handling of a disaster in Sumatra. Videos circulating on social media show uniformed personnel allegedly assaulting civilians involved in a convoy.
Civil Society Condemnation
The Civil Society Coalition said the involvement of the military in handling demonstrations violates Indonesia’s 1945 Constitution and the TNI Law, which restrict the armed forces’ role in civilian law enforcement.
Julius Ibrani, chair of the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI) and a representative of the coalition, criticized the deployment of troops from Military Resort Command (Korem) 011/Lilawangsa to manage the protest.
“Public protests are a constitutional right guaranteed by law and are a legitimate form of expression in a democracy,” Julius said on Saturday, December 27, 2025. “The handling of demonstrations falls under police authority, not the military.”
He added that any alleged criminal violations during protests should be addressed through civilian law enforcement mechanisms, stressing that military involvement represents a deviation from the TNI’s mandated duties.
GAM Flag and Historical Trauma
The coalition also rejected the use of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) crescent-star flag as justification for violent dispersal. According to Julius, issues related to the display of the flag should be resolved through dialogue by the Aceh provincial government or the police.
“The repressive actions taken against Acehnese civilians reopen the long-standing trauma of the 32-year armed conflict in the region,” he said, adding that such measures reflect a lack of sensitivity amid post-disaster recovery efforts.
The coalition urged the House of Representatives (DPR) and the government to instruct the TNI commander to take firm action against personnel found to have violated regulations, warning that unchecked violence could deepen public distrust.
“Disaster-affected communities need state services, not militaristic responses,” Julius said.
Accounts From Witnesses and Rights Groups
Videos uploaded by Instagram accounts @acehspeakup and @acehworldtimes appear to show soldiers in camouflage uniforms striking civilians with their hands, rifle butts, and kicks near aid convoy trucks in North Aceh.
Azharul Husna, head of the Aceh chapter of the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (Kontras), said the beatings occurred when the convoy reached the North Aceh Regent’s Office.
“There was repressive action by the TNI,” Husna said on Friday, December 26, 2025. He added that the convoy consisted of young people expressing frustration with the central government’s disaster response while carrying GAM-associated symbols.
Husna noted that similar sweeps had occurred previously, including inspections of aid trucks displaying GAM attributes. “What we regret most is the violence. Disappointment should be addressed humanely, not through force,” he said.
TNI Response
The TNI denied allegations that its personnel assaulted disaster survivors. Indonesian Army Information Service Head Colonel Donny Pramono said the incident took place during a joint TNI-Police security operation conducted between December 25 and 26, 2025, along the Banda Aceh–Medan highway near the border of North Aceh and Bireuen regencies.
According to Donny, the operation aimed to prevent mass convoys from carrying and displaying the GAM crescent-star flag, which he said is prohibited under Indonesian law due to its association with separatist movements.
“The friction that occurred was spontaneous and resulted from provocations in the field. It was not a planned or intentional act to harm civilians,” Donny said.
Donny stated that officers initially carried out the operation in a “persuasive and humane” manner, including vehicle stops and routine inspections.
However, he claimed the situation escalated after members of the crowd pushed and assaulted security personnel, including the Lhokseumawe Police Chief and the North Aceh Military District Commander.
He said the situation was eventually brought under control through dialogue and mediation between authorities and convoy coordinators, with both sides agreeing that the incident stemmed from a misunderstanding.
“We urge the public to view this incident in its entirety and not rely solely on fragmented videos or narratives that may lead to misperceptions,” Donny said, adding that the TNI remains committed to prioritizing dialogue while maintaining security so disaster response and recovery efforts in Aceh can proceed.
Eka Yudha Saputra contributed to the writing of this article.
Read: TNI Denies Violence Allegations After GAM-Flag Aid Convoy Halted in Aceh
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