Aceh's fate to be decided Thursday<\/p>\n
Abdul Khalik and Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government is expected to make a decision on the status of
\ntroubled Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam during a cabinet meeting on
\nThursday, an official says.<\/p>\n
Interim coordinating minister for political and security
\naffairs Lt. Gen. (ret) Hari Sabarno said that in a ministerial
\nmeeting on Wednesday it had been recommended that martial law
\nstatus be lowered to a state of civil emergency or state of civil
\norder.<\/p>\n
\"If we were to say that the condition there had improved, but
\nnot lift the martial law status, it would be confusing,\" he said
\nafter a meeting at his office on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
He also said that some 50 to 60 percent of members of the Free
\nAceh Movement (GAM) had been incapacitated.<\/p>\n
The meeting was attended by National Police chief Gen. Da'i
\nBachtiar, Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza
\nMahendra, Minister of Social Affairs Bachtiar Chamsyah,
\nCoordinating Minister for the Economy Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti
\nand Minister of Settlement and Regional Infrastructure Soenarno.<\/p>\n
Although the government is considering maintaining martial law
\nin several GAM strongholds, the decision to lower the status
\nwould have positive political consequences, particularly in the
\ninternational community, Hari said.<\/p>\n
Hari said that some foreign countries respected Indonesia for
\nthe implementation of martial law in Aceh. \"They would respond
\npositively if (we) lowered the status. Perhaps, (in the form of)
\nforeign investment or support,\" he added.<\/p>\n
However, Hari said, the government would continue the
\nintegrated operation in the province despite the expected lower
\nstatus.<\/p>\n
\"The Indonesian Military (TNI) and police will stay there
\nbecause it is demanded by the people,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Hari also said the government would consider recommendations
\nby the House of Representatives over the conflict in Aceh.<\/p>\n
The martial law status was imposed on troubled Aceh on May 19
\nfor a six-month period and was extended for another six months on
\nNov. 19.<\/p>\n
Earlier, the House recommended the status be lowered to a
\nstate of civil emergency.<\/p>\n
The imposition of martial law on Aceh has met widespread
\ncriticism from inside and outside the country, as it gives the
\nmilitary full authority to manage the integrated operations,
\nunder which around 40,000 military and police personnel have been
\ndeployed to hunt down some five thousand suspected GAM rebels.<\/p>\n
Under a civil emergency status, civilian leaders would be
\nassisted by military leaders to oversee the province. A civil
\norder status, on the other hand, would imply that the area was
\nsafe, with security affairs controlled by the police.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Attorney General MA Rachman told the House of
\nRepresentatives (DPR) Commission II on Wednesday that corruption
\nhad been on the rise in Aceh since the imposition of martial law.<\/p>\n
He also confirmed that his office was currently probing
\nalleged corruption in 26 out of 46 projects conducted in Nangroe
\nAceh Darussalam during 2003 and 2004 and worth around Rp 335
\nbillion.<\/p>\n
\"Prosecutors are now investigating alleged corruption
\ncommitted by the NAD administration, including its governor, in
\n26 projects,\" said Rachman, referring to Governor Abdullah Puteh.<\/p>\n
He said, he had instructed prosecutors to cooperate with
\nmartial law administrators so that the inquiry would be conducted
\nefficiently.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, London-based Amnesty International called on the
\nIndonesian government on Wednesday to end martial law in Aceh and
\nto launch an independent investigation into the \"dramatic\"
\nincrease in human rights violations in the war-torn province, dpa
\nnews agency reported.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/acehs-fate-to-be-decided-thursday-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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