House to ask govt to slightly alter martial law in Aceh
Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta
The House of Representatives (DPR) is likely to recommend the government lower martial law in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam to a state of civil emergency, given improving security and public order in the province.
The lifting of martial law, however, would not necessarily mean the withdrawal of troops from the resource-rich province.
Nearly 40,000 troops have been deployed to the province since the inception of martial law on May 19 last year to crush the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatist group, which has been waging guerrilla warfare there since 1976.
"The troops should be maintained in some areas regarded as under GAM influence in an attempt to improve the security condition there," Effendi Choirie, deputy chairman of the House's Commission I for defense and political affairs, said after an internal meeting here on Wednesday.
Separately, House Speaker Akbar Tandjung opined that the martial law status should be lowered to a state of civil emergency soon.
"We don't want to see the endless implementation of martial law in Aceh," Akbar said after a meeting with O.C. Kaligis, the lawyer of Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh, who met him in connection with his client's implication in a graft case.
Effendi said that in a bid to get first-hand information on the progress of the integrated operation in Aceh, the commission had summoned martial law administrator in Aceh Maj. Gen. Endang Suwarya for a hearing on Thursday.
Endang, however, is unlikely to turn up because he has to attend a limited security meeting at the office of the coordinating minister for political and security affairs on the same day.
The government imposed martial law on Aceh on May 19 last year for six months but later extended it for another six months. President Megawati Soekarnoputri has indicated that the status will be lifted when it expires next month.
Despite its earlier promise, the military failed to prevent civilian and noncombatant casualties. Sori Ersa Siregar, an RCTI journalist, was shot dead by military troops while being held hostage by GAM last December.
Fery Santoro, an RCTI cameraman is still under the captivity of GAM.
Interim coordinating minister for political and security affairs Hari Sabarno said on Tuesday the government might end the martial law status.
The government, however, would continue the integrated operation, which consists of a humanitarian operation, law enforcement, bureaucracy empowerment, and security restoration.
The minister said the government had summoned the Aceh martial law administrator for a meeting on the matter on Thursday.
The outcome of the meeting would immediately be forwarded to President Megawati.
Hari said the government considered the integrated operation in Aceh a success, as it had returned social and political life in the region to normal.
Hari added that whatever decision was taken by the President regarding the martial law status, the government would continue the military operation because local people hoped the already conducive situation would be maintained.
Besides, many separatist group leaders are still on the run, although they no longer dare to confront the police or military openly, Hari added.