Govt asked to pay more attention to Aceh security<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces Faction in the House of
\nRepresentatives has asked the administration to pay more
\nattention to security problems in the province of Aceh.<\/p>\n
In a written report on a recent visit to Sumatra of a team of
\nthe House's Commission I, responsible for security and foreign
\naffairs, the faction says that separatist rebels in the province
\nare still trying to gain international support for their cause.<\/p>\n
Although the rebels' strength has been weakened significantly,
\ntheir activities still pose a problem, says the report, which was
\nread to a plenary session of the House yesterday.<\/p>\n
\"With the death of their leader, Pawang Rasyid, on June 20,
\nthe rebels lost their power.\" The faction said that the
\nadministration should put an end to the Aceh rebellion before the
\n1997 general election.<\/p>\n
The Armed Forces faction said that the separatist group is
\nusing marijuana to meet its logistic needs in its operations
\nagainst the Indonesian military.<\/p>\n
Many marijuana plantations discovered in the province have
\nbeen linked to the rebels, the faction said.<\/p>\n
To destroy marijuana plantations, the Armed Forces carried out
\na special month-long operation in southeastern Aceh in June.<\/p>\n
The report said several Army personnel had been found to be
\ninvolved in the illegal trading of the drug. \"The troops'
\ninvolvement has become a challenge to the military authorities,\"
\nit conceded.<\/p>\n
The faction suggested that the administration reactivate the
\nspecial operation in order to destroy the rebels' logistic
\nresources.<\/p>\n
It said that the servicemen known to have become involved in
\nthe rebels' trading activities should be punished.<\/p>\n
The faction also touched upon another security problem: that
\nof Aceh fishermen inadvertently crossing into Indian waters as a
\nresult of their technologically-backward boats.<\/p>\n
The report said that Aceh fishermen arrested in Indian waters
\nwere jailed on Indian islands and that repatriating them was
\nvery difficult because of the complicated procedures insisted
\nupon by Indian authorities for their release.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, the report said, many foreign ships enter
\nIndonesian waters and illegally fish in waters off Aceh. The
\nforeigner fishermen often threaten local fishermen and open fire
\non them, it added.<\/p>\n
The faction suggested the military increase its sea border
\npatrols and crack down on illegal fishing operations by
\nforeigners. It also proposed that local fishermen be provided
\nwith supervision to ensure that they do not cross into the waters
\nof other countries. (05)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-asked-to-pay-more-attention-to-aceh-security-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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