Foreign aid workers must register: TNI<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government on Tuesday slapped tough restrictions on foreign
\naid workers currently in Aceh, citing security fears, and
\ncreating yet another setback in relief operations.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto said
\nsecurity forces could not guarantee the safety of more than 2,000
\ncivilian foreigner aid workers presently involved in the massive
\ninternational aid effort, from separatist rebels in Aceh.<\/p>\n
Foreign aid workers outside the provincial capital of Banda
\nAceh must register with and get permission from the TNI so the
\nsoldiers could ensure their safety, he added.<\/p>\n
\"The government is still conducting armed activities. I don't
\nwant any foreigners here killed. For the time being we'll escort
\nforeigners who are working outside Banda Aceh,\" Endriartono was
\nquoted by AFP as saying in the ravaged city.<\/p>\n
Further measures would see Indonesian military liaison
\nofficers posted on all foreign planes and ships delivering aid,
\nand all would have to obtain clearance permits.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, State Secretary Sudi Silalahi defended the
\nmilitary's decision to restrict the movement of foreigners in
\nAceh, reiterating that it was for security reasons.<\/p>\n
Speaking after a Cabinet meeting on issues after the Dec. 26
\ntsunami that killed more than 105,000 people in Aceh and North
\nSumatra, Sudi said the government was trying to prevent incidents
\nthat could endanger the lives of foreigners.<\/p>\n
\"It would be just terrible if people get kidnapped or injured
\nby the separatist movement in Aceh. It's not a restriction, but
\nsimply a way to ensure the safety of our foreign friends,\" he
\nexplained.<\/p>\n
Before the catastrophe devastated Aceh, access to the province
\nhad been almost totally closed as the government pursued a major
\nmilitary offensive against Free Aceh Movement (GAM) members. But
\nthe doors were flung open two weeks ago to allow relief to pour
\nin.<\/p>\n
According to Endriartono, a foreign medical worker was briefly
\ntaken hostage and some supply convoys were ambushed. However, he
\ndid not say when or where the incidents took place.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, GAM commander-in-chief Muzakkir Manaf dismissed the
\nTNI's claim that foreign aid workers were in danger from his
\ngroup.<\/p>\n
The guerrillas guaranteed the safety of all foreigners in Aceh
\nand gave them free access to all areas there, he said.<\/p>\n
\"Such a restriction (by the TNI) is merely a move aimed at
\nscaring off international aid workers, and it comes amid
\ntremendous anxiety over their presence in Aceh,\" said a press
\nstatement signed by Manaf.<\/p>\n
Sidney Jones, from the International Crisis Group, told AFP
\nthat claims of a rebel threat were unfounded and an attempt to
\nreassert TNI control in Aceh.<\/p>\n
\"What they (rebels) want more than anything else is for an
\ninternational presence to be there and stay there for a long
\ntime. It would go completely against the grain for them to mount
\nattacks (against foreigners).\"<\/p>\n
The United Nations' coordinator for the relief efforts in
\nAceh, Joel Boutroue, said there was no threat to relief agencies
\nin the province, but the new development would not cause
\nproblems.<\/p>\n
\"It's normal for the government to want to know where people
\nare,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The restriction will, however, likely cause further confusion
\nin the already troubled relief effort. Despite an abundance of
\nresources and manpower, aid workers were still struggling to
\ndeliver assistance to some devastated areas.<\/p>\n
Also on Tuesday, Minister of Defense Juwono Soedarsono renewed
\nthe government's offer of a cease-fire with GAM, but said so far
\nthere were no answers from the rebels.<\/p>\n
\"It is a disaster for everybody, for the Acehnese, for the
\nIndonesian government and GAM. We have asked them (the rebels) to
\njoin hands with the TNI in the humanitarian operations, but they
\nhave yet to answer,\" he said.<\/p>\n
However, GAM spokesman Bakhtiar Abdullah reiterated a call for
\na cessation of hostilities in Aceh and said the Acehnese people
\nhad suffered enough from the tsunami.<\/p>\n
\"If a peace dialog is something possible, we will agree to
\nreturn to negotiation table and start talking about how to stop
\nhostilities in Aceh. We should take a step back from talking
\nabout the unitary state (of Indonesia) versus independence (for
\nAceh),\" Bakhtiar told The Jakarta Post by phone from Sweden.
\nRelated stories on Pages 2,3,6,7,11,13,19,20
\nEditorial -- Page 6<\/p>",
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