Extension of civil emergency a certainty<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja
\nThe Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
The extension of the civil emergency in the troubled province of
\nAceh is now a foregone conclusion as the House of Representatives
\nhas thrown its support behind the government.<\/p>\n
House Speaker Agung Laksono said on Sunday that the House had
\nno objection to the government's plan to extend the state of
\ncivil emergency as it was in line with the view of the local
\nlegislative council.<\/p>\n
\"We have no objection to the plan. I have heard the proposal
\nfor the extension directly from local council members, and that
\nrepresents the people's aspirations,\" Agung said after greeting
\nPresident Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Sunday, the first day of
\nthe Idul Fitri celebrations.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security
\nAffairs Widodo A.S. said last Friday that the current civil
\nemergency would be kept in place in Aceh, albeit with a number of
\nadjustments, including the areas covered and its duration.<\/p>\n
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is slated to hold a meeting
\nwith House leaders on Wednesday at the State Palace to discuss
\nthe Aceh issue.<\/p>\n
According to the law, the imposition of both a state of
\nmartial law and of civil emergency in any part of the country
\nrequires the approval of the House.<\/p>\n
\"The extension is necessary as we have to maintain the
\nsecurity situation in the province. According to local council
\nmembers, there are still potential threats,\" Agung said.<\/p>\n
Aceh has been put under a state of emergency since May 19,
\n2003, following the failure of peace talks between the government
\nand leaders of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).<\/p>\n
Former president Megawati Soekarnoputri imposed martial law in
\nAceh on May 19, 2003, but reduced this to a state of civil
\nemergency on May 19, 2004.<\/p>\n
The six-month duration of the civil emergency will end on
\nFriday, and the government has to decide what it wants to do
\nafter that.<\/p>\n
Widodo said last Friday that the government would extend the
\ncivil emergency but had yet to determine its length or the areas
\ncovered.<\/p>\n
The decision was made despite demands for the new government
\nto revive the peace talks with GAM leaders.<\/p>\n
\"We have to further decide whether the civil emergency will
\nonly apply in certain regencies and not the whole province, as
\nwell as the duration of the extension -- for three, four or six
\nmonths?\" Widodo said after a limited Cabinet meeting.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Army chief Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu said that the
\nextension of the emergency was aimed at fulfilling the public's
\nneed for security.<\/p>\n
\"We are only trying to bring about peace in Aceh and the
\ndecision to impose the emergency was taken to ensure the security
\nof the people,\" Ryamizard said after participating in Idul Fitri
\nprayers in Lhoksemawe, Aceh, last Sunday.<\/p>\n
He said that despite of the improving security situation in
\nthe province, GAM still posed a security threat in the province,
\nwhere insurgents have been fighting for independence for the
\nresource-rich province since 1976.<\/p>\n
The four-star general said military operations would continue
\nuntil the military managed to eliminate the separatist movement.<\/p>",
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