Government services grinding to a halt in Aceh<\/p>\n
BANDA ACEH (JP): A climate of uncertainty prevailed on
\nThursday in the province of Aceh as thousands of demonstrators
\nagain clamored for independence and government services in
\nseveral regencies ground to a halt.<\/p>\n
Some 3,000 students protested in front of the provincial
\ncouncil building here, demanding a referendum which included an
\noption for independence be held in the province.<\/p>\n
Grouped in the Student Solidarity for Referendum and Forum of
\nJustice Fighters for Acehnese, the students also rejected calls
\nto impose martial law in Aceh.<\/p>\n
Dozens of buses, as well as other means of public transport,
\nbrought demonstrators to the council building at about 8:45 a.m..<\/p>\n
The students yelled slogans demanding a referendum and
\nlistened to recitals of the Koran.<\/p>\n
The well organized and peaceful protest dispersed without
\nincident four hours later.<\/p>\n
Separately here, Governor Syamsuddin Mahmud noted that the
\nsituation in the province was becoming more serious day by day.
\nHe said several regencies were now completely paralyzed.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a seminar, Syamsuddin said that due to the
\nprecarious security situation, many government employees were not
\ngoing to work.<\/p>\n
He said law enforcement was becoming more and more difficult
\nto uphold and was forcing many non-Acehnese residents in the
\nprovince to flee in fear.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in Panji Mulia village, Bukit district, Central
\nAceh, arsonists torched on Thursday morning four houses, causing
\nthe death of two women.<\/p>\n
The victims were identified as Jatmi, 30, and Kasmawati, 20.<\/p>\n
Central Aceh Police chief Lt. Col. Misik Natari quoted witness
\nSuryanto, whose house was gutted, as saying that shortly before
\nthe arson attack a group of armed men fired at houses in the
\nvillage.<\/p>\n
\"Suryanto survived with two gunshot wounds and was rushed to
\nhospital for further treatment,\" Misik said.<\/p>\n
Demands<\/p>\n
Despite President Abdurrahman Wahid's public rejection of the
\nimposition of limited martial law in the province, senior
\nmilitary officials pleaded again on Thursday for their case.<\/p>\n
In Makassar, South Sulawesi, outgoing Indonesian Military
\n(TNI) Chief of Staff Gen. Subagyo Hadisiswoyo said the martial
\nlaw option should still be considered given the grave situation.<\/p>\n
\"I think that under the serious circumstances (in Aceh), where
\nthe condition is deteriorating day by day, including large
\ncasualties among the security officers ... that it's of great
\nconcern,\" Subagyo said.<\/p>\n
\"It all depends on the people of Aceh now. If the Acehnese can
\nunderstand and are willing to settle the matter together
\nproperly, there is no need to implement martial law,\" he told
\njournalists after installing Maj. Gen. Agus Wirahadikusmah as
\nWirabuana Military Command. Agus is replacing Lt. Gen. Suaidi
\nMarasabessy, who was promoted as chief of TNI's general affairs
\ndepartment.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in Jakarta, TNI spokesman, Maj. Gen. Sudrajat said
\non Thursday that the military faced a dilemma. He said that on
\nthe one hand TNI had to maintain order, while on the other hand
\nit had officially withdrawn from the province.<\/p>\n
\"Aceh is facing a chaotic condition, the leaders should decide
\nits political stance and the TNI position as soon as possible,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
The two-star general said that martial law should not be
\nequated with the military operation previously taken in the
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
\"Martial law is imposed to instill order and a normal
\ncondition in a province where the local government can run as
\nusual.\"<\/p>\n
He said the province might need martial law because the only
\nparty currently willing to enter the area was the military.<\/p>\n
\"Martial law is not meant to add to the killing or violence,
\nbut to reactivate general services and hunt down unauthorized
\narmed men in the region,\" Sudrajat said.<\/p>\n
The President, civilian Cabinet members and various non-
\ngovernmental organizations, as well as community leaders have
\ncondemned the plan to impose martial law.<\/p>\n
In Yogyakarta, political observer Ichlasul Amal warned that if
\nmartial law was imposed it would trigger greater unrest and
\nresistance in Aceh.<\/p>\n
Political observer Pratikno of Gadjah Mada University warned
\nthat Acehnese might not be satisfied only with a referendum on
\nthe implementation of Syariah (Islamic law) in the province.<\/p>\n
\"The Aceh case needs to be solved within the national
\npolitical system. The government also must avoid over punishing
\nthe military as not all of them are responsible for the military
\noperations in Aceh,\" Pratikno said.<\/p>\n
\"If they do, TNI will be further cornered and it may trigger
\nrebellious acts toward the government. This must be prevented,\"
\nhe said. (04\/27\/44\/50\/edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/government-services-grinding-to-a-halt-in-aceh-1447893297",
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