Government ignores Acehnese 'referendum calls'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): After relinquishing his post as state minister
\nfor human rights, Hasballah M. Saad on Wednesday criticized the
\ngovernment for not taking real steps to resolve the Aceh issue
\nduring the extended humanitarian pause there.<\/p>\n
Hasballah charged that Jakarta has ignored Acehnese calls for
\na referendum on the province's independence and failed to follow
\nup on its offer of wide-ranging special autonomy.<\/p>\n
\"If the government doesn't bring a political deal to the
\nAcehnese people during the cease-fire, then the current
\nhumanitarian pause is a waste of time,\" he told journalists after
\nthe official ceremony merging the former state ministry with the
\nministry of justice here on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\"Although the humanitarian pause has succeeded in bringing
\nabout a conducive environment for peace talks between the
\nIndonesian government and GAM, no political resolution is
\nemerging,\" Hasballah remarked.<\/p>\n
The three-month accord, which initially came into effect on
\nJune 2, was extended last week. The Indonesian government,
\nhowever, says it is imposing a one-month trial period for the
\nextended accord to see whether separatist rebels adhere to the
\nagreed ground rules.<\/p>\n
The government has also demanded that more substantial
\ndiscussions, within the framework of maintaining Aceh as a part
\nof Indonesia, begin during this extension of the pause.<\/p>\n
But the human tragedy in Aceh has continued despite the
\naccord.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, five decaying bodies were found in the Tanah Karo
\nregion, some 80 kilometers north of Medan, North Sumatra.<\/p>\n
One of the bodies is believed to be the body of Jafar Siddiq
\nHamzah, chief of the New York-based International Forum for Aceh
\n(IFA) who went missing in early August during a visit to Medan.<\/p>\n
Antara reported that forensic experts confirmed on Wednesday
\nthat one of the bodies is that of Jafar.<\/p>\n
Jafar's siblings, Syafruddin and Suzi Hamzah, had earlier
\ngiven information on their brother's identifying features, such
\nas a lump on the back of his neck, a surgical scar on his stomach
\nand that two of Jafar's left molars had been extracted.<\/p>\n
Many people believe that his disappearance is linked to his
\nactivities as a human rights activist.<\/p>\n
The Commission on Missing Persons and Victims of Violence
\n(Kontras) has alleged that Jafar was a victim of what it calls \"a
\nprofessionally executed disappearance which left no clues or
\neyewitnesses\".<\/p>\n
Commenting on the continuing terror, Hasballah, a native
\nAcehnese, said the tragedies were proof that the government has
\nbeen failing to protect its people. (bby)<\/p>",
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