Aceh emergency extended for 6 months<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has extended the civil state
\nof emergency in Aceh for up to six months after securing approval
\nfrom the House of Representatives (DPR).<\/p>\n
Speaking after a four-hour meeting with House leaders,
\nincluding faction and commission heads, Susilo said the extension
\nwas necessary to encourage order in the province.<\/p>\n
\"To keep the momentum for peace, the current emergency status
\nwill be extended for six months at the most, with a monthly
\nreview for a possible change of status to one of civil order,\"
\nSusilo said.<\/p>\n
The current civil emergency, which ends on Nov. 18 at
\nmidnight, was imposed on May 18 following a year of martial law
\naimed at stamping out the secessionist Free Aceh Movement (GAM),
\nwhich has been fighting for Aceh's independence from Indonesia
\nsince 1976.<\/p>\n
Under the emergency, local authorities can freely censor the
\npress and issue curfews and house searches at will.<\/p>\n
While martial law in Aceh no longer exists, operations against
\nGAM rebels in the province have continued unabated. Security
\nofficers now put the size of the surviving GAM force at about
\n2,500 guerrillas and estimate they have about 850 weapons. At the
\nstart of the military campaign last year TNI officers estimated
\nGAM rebels numbered about 5,000.<\/p>\n
Susilo said along with the extension, the government would
\ntake new measures to end conflict in Aceh and ensure the full
\nimplementation of special autonomy in the province.<\/p>\n
\"We will issue detailed information about how to end conflicts
\nand improve the implementation of special autonomy. We will also
\nmaintain the comprehensive operations in the province,\" Susilo
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
During martial law, the government introduced what it called
\nan \"integrated operation\", which included laws supposed to
\nempower regional administrations, enforce existing laws, and curb
\nmilitary excesses.<\/p>\n
Activists, however, have called the laws window dressing and
\nsaid they were meaningless when the military remained in control
\nin many areas and civilians were often in a state of siege.<\/p>\n
\"These operations will remain, but we will find measures to
\nimprove and speed up the program in line with special autonomy,\"
\nSusilo said.<\/p>\n
House Speaker Agung Laksono said the House understood the need
\nto extend the civil emergency but stressed there should be a
\nthorough evaluation each month so as to end the status as soon as
\npossible.<\/p>\n
Susilo is expected to issue the presidential decree on
\nThursday (today) before flying to Santiago, Chile, to attend the
\nAPEC Summit.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, United Development Party (PPP) faction leader Endin
\nSoefihara said there were several questions raised by House
\nmembers during the consultation, including the status of the
\nongoing investigation of Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh in
\nconnection with corruption charges.<\/p>\n
\"We asked the government inform us of the legal status of the
\ngovernor and about the process of the investigation. We also
\nquestioned the reason for the extension (of the emergency) and
\nthe transparency measures regarding the funds allocated for the
\noperation,\" Endin said after the meeting.<\/p>\n
However, he underlined that the House was not in the position
\nto approve or reject the decision extending the emergency.<\/p>\n
When asked about the possibility of the government talking
\nwith GAM leaders, Endin said while no specifics were discussed at
\nthe meeting, House members agreed that no talks should include
\nforeign parties.<\/p>\n
\"Any peace dialog should be conducted without intervention or
\nany facilitation by foreign agencies -- it should be directly
\nbetween the government and the separatist movement,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Former president Megawati Soekarnoputri first imposed the
\nmartial law following the failure of peace talks between the
\ngovernment and GAM leaders in Sweden.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/aceh-emergency-extended-for-6-months-1447893297",
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