Anxiety clouds Aceh as peace talks canceled<\/p>\n
Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh, Aceh<\/p>\n
Following the cancellation of a Joint Council meeting between the
\ngovernment and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), the military in Aceh
\nhas been put on high alert while awaiting possible deployments
\norders.<\/p>\n
Residents of Aceh are now living under the cloud of the
\npossible resumption of hostilities between the military and
\nrebels.<\/p>\n
Iskandar Muda Military Commander Maj. Gen. Djali Yusuf
\nannounced here on Friday that all combat troops in the province
\nhad been put on high alert to prepare them for deployment if
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri orders the military to launch a
\nmilitary operation.<\/p>\n
\"Although a red alert has been declared, we are still in
\ndefensive positions waiting for an order from Jakarta,\" he told
\nlocal and foreign journalists.<\/p>\n
He added that the red alert was only for security personnel,
\nnot for civilians.<\/p>\n
Djali said that where the 1989-1998 military operation in the
\nprovince was massive, any operation that was launched now would
\ntake place in stages.<\/p>\n
He said earlier that any new military operation would take six
\nmonths.<\/p>\n
The government decided not to send representatives to the
\nJoint Council meeting scheduled for April 25 in Geneva because
\nGAM insisted the meeting be held on April 27.<\/p>\n
Angered by GAM's insistence on the meeting's date, top
\nsecurity minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the government
\nwould no longer bow down to GAM.<\/p>\n
The government called for the Joint Council meeting to discuss
\nviolations of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement the two
\nsides signed in Geneva on Dec. 9, 2002, through the mediation of
\nthe Henry Dunant Centre. The government has accused GAM of
\nfailing to lay down its arms and of violating the peace agreement
\nby collecting taxes from the Acehnese people and campaigning for
\nindependence.<\/p>\n
Residents of Aceh regretted the cancellation of the Joint
\nCouncil meeting, saying it was a clear signal that war would soon
\nbegin in the province.<\/p>\n
Ipul, 31, a pedicab driver near the Banda Aceh Grand Mosque,
\nsaid he hoped the peace process would continue because his daily
\nincome was dropping sharply as tension in the province escalated.<\/p>\n
\"Residents in the city are afraid to leave their houses,
\nespecially at night,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Fauzan, 35, a food vendor in the city, was frustrated by the
\nprospect of resumed military operations.<\/p>\n
\"What are we? We are just ordinary people who can do nothing
\nto change the situation,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The situation in the declared peace zone in the Indrapuri
\ndistrict in Aceh Besar regency, some 23 kilometers east of Banda
\nAceh, was much the same as in the provincial capital.<\/p>\n
Although the security situation was normal, residents could
\nnot hide their concern. A sign bearing the words \"peace zone\" had
\nbeen painted over with the words \"war zone\".<\/p>\n
\"I don't know who painted the sign. Surely, he or she does not
\nwant peace in Aceh,\" said Maimunah, 56, a cucumber vendor.<\/p>\n
Muhammad, a resident of Indrapuri district, said: \"I don't
\nknow what will happen if war breaks out. Maybe we will all
\nstarve.\"<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, two members of GAM were killed during a raid by
\nsecurity forces in the village of Ulee Jalan, Banda Aceh
\ndistrict, North Aceh regency, at dawn on Friday.<\/p>\n
\"They were shot by security personnel,\" GAM spokesman Teungku
\nJamaika said.<\/p>\n
Lhokseumawe Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Eko Daryanto confirmed
\ntwo people had been shot and killed, saying the pair often
\nextorted money from local residents.<\/p>",
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