Bill on special autonomy for Aceh proposed<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives (DPR) officially
\nproposed a draft bill on Monday for the Special Autonomy of
\nNanggroe Aceh Darussalam, recommending the implementation of
\nSyariah or Islamic Law for Muslims in the province, and a bigger
\nproportion in revenue sharing between the central government and
\nthe restive province.<\/p>\n
The draft states that the provincial court which would be
\nnamed Mahkamah Syariah, would deal with all legal matters based
\non Islamic Law for Muslim citizens and Indonesian criminal law
\nfor non-Muslim citizens.<\/p>\n
The implementation of Islamic law would be further determined
\nby the local provincial legislature in the form of Qanun, which
\nin other provinces is called city bylaw.<\/p>\n
"The Qanun will also decide what punishment would be given to
\nthose (Muslims) charged with crimes," chairman of the bill
\nspecial committee Ferry Mursyidan Baldan said.<\/p>\n
The draft bill also proposes that the province receive 80
\npercent of the total revenue from the province's income from the
\nagricultural and fishery sector, and 85 percent of the total
\nprofit gained from oil and gas businesses.<\/p>\n
"After a 10-year period, the central government would receive
\nat least a 50 percent share in revenue," the proposed bill
\nstates.<\/p>\n
However, the House did not suggest a broader authority for the
\npeople of Aceh through the highest body which oversees Acehnese
\ncustoms or Wali Nanggroe, rather, it would act as a symbolic
\ninstitution that would have no practical power in the government.<\/p>\n
"The main point of the proposed bill is not to provide
\nextraordinary authority to the Acehnese, such as establishing an
\nindependent country within Indonesia," Ferry said.<\/p>\n
The bill comprising 14 chapters and 30 articles suggests that
\nAceh (province) be changed into Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam
\n(province), as requested by the majority of the Aceh people.<\/p>\n
The proposed bill also suggests that Wali Nanggroe be a
\nnonstructural organization in the administration and a symbol of
\nthe preservation of (Acehnese) culture and tradition rather than
\nbe involved in any political decision making.<\/p>\n
According to the bill, the province is allowed to arrange
\ndirect gubernatorial elections, whenever it is ready. But if the
\nprovince is not ready, gubernatorial elections should be held by
\nlocal provincial legislators, and the elected governor will, like
\nother governors in other provinces, be sworn in by the
\n(Indonesian) minister of home affairs and regional autonomy.<\/p>\n
The province is allowed to chose its own provincial symbol and
\nflag, but the flag must be hoisted alongside the national
\nred-and-white flag.<\/p>\n
The draft further states that the Aceh Police chief, who will
\nbe appointed by the National Police chief with the approval of
\nthe Aceh governor, is accountable to the governor of Aceh
\nregarding security matters, including law and order.<\/p>\n
32 killed<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, it was reported on Monday that as many as 27 dead
\nbodies were found on Sunday in Central Aceh.<\/p>\n
An Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) worker Rahmad Syah said that
\nmost of the bodies, with gunshot and stab wounds, were found in
\nvarious villages in the district of Bandar, some 30 kilometers
\nfrom Takengon, the capital of Central Aceh regency.<\/p>\n
"The bodies, which were unable to be identified due to the
\nwounds, were buried in Pondok Baru on Sunday," Rahmad told The
\nJakarta Post by phone from Takengon on Monday.<\/p>\n
Rahmad estimated that the people were killed about two days
\nbefore their bodies were discovered.<\/p>\n
In a related development, Wien Rimba Raya, GAM spokesman in
\nCentral Aceh said in a telephone interview on Monday that all the
\ncorpses in Bandar were of civilians, who were killed when the
\nIndonesian Military conducted a sweeping operation in the
\nvillages on Friday.<\/p>\n
Wien also accused the military of having torched a resident's
\nhouse in Timang Gajah on Saturday, killing seven civilians inside
\nthe house.<\/p>\n
Firdaus denied the accusations on Sunday, saying that it (the
\naccusation) was just GAM propaganda and that all 20 people killed
\nin Timang Gajah were GAM members.<\/p>\n
However, chief of Aceh military operations Brig. Gen. Zamroni
\nsaid on Sunday that the overall situation in Aceh was improving.<\/p>\n
"The number of attacks on the (Indonesian) military and police
\nstations has been decreasing. Interprovincial transportation from
\nBanda Aceh to Medan has returned to normal, thanks to the
\nconcerted efforts of the military to maintain security."
\n(dja\/50\/sur)<\/p>",
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