Govt discusses Aceh recovery<\/p>\n
Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh, Aceh<\/p>\n
The government along with the military met with a select group of
\nconcerned people in Aceh on Saturday to hold discussions on
\neconomic recovery in the province, in the event that the economy-
\nhindering armed conflict comes to an end.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla told
\nthe Aceh-based figures, including local government officials,
\nbusinesspeople, academics and non-governmental organization (NGO)
\nactivists, that the province should "rely on their own strength".<\/p>\n
"Do not expect too much from foreign assistance as such loans
\nmay not benefit the Acehnese," Kalla claimed without elaborating.<\/p>\n
The gathering was held in Takengon, the capital of Central
\nAceh regency.<\/p>\n
Also present was the Iskandar Muda Military Commander and Aceh
\nmartial law administrator Maj. Gen. Endang Suwarya as well as
\nAceh Governor Abdullah Puteh.<\/p>\n
During the meeting, they talked about solutions to the various
\nproblems in the province, including unemployment, agricultural
\nrecovery and repair of damaged infrastructure.<\/p>\n
One of the concrete resolutions that came out of the meeting
\nis that they agreed to call on local banks to disburse loans to
\naddress those problems.<\/p>\n
A group of foreign donors, including the United States, the
\nEuropean Union, Japan and the World Bank had promised millions of
\ndollars of assistance to rebuild Aceh to support a peace pact
\nsigned in December 2002. But the pledge was put on hold after
\npeace talks between the Indonesian government and Free Aceh
\nMovement (GAM) broke down and the current round of hostilities
\nwere launched by Jakarta on May 19.<\/p>\n
The government and the military initially assumed a 6-month
\ntimetable for the current offensive against the rebels, but there
\nhas been talk of late of extending that, so the foreign
\nassistance may not be forthcoming any time soon.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a police officer announced on Saturday that the
\nmilitary and police troops had destroyed 57 bombs and other
\nweapons apparently belonging to GAM, which had been discovered in
\nBanda Aceh, and Neuheun village in Aceh Besar regency on Friday.<\/p>\n
Among the explosives and weapons were rockets, grenades and
\nartillery mortars.<\/p>\n
A suspected GAM bomb specialist was arrested during the
\noperation, the Tegak Rencong law enforcement operation chief
\nBrig. Gen. T. Gulian Syah said.<\/p>\n
He added that a search was underway for other GAM bombmakers,
\nwhose capture would cripple their network.<\/p>\n
"Besides the bombs we destroyed today, there were some
\nexplosives demolished as soon as they were found," he said.<\/p>\n
With the military operation now in its fourth month, Maj. Gen.
\nEndang said that the strength of GAM had been nearly decimated as
\nmost of their territory was under TNI control.<\/p>\n
However, he said many GAM members remained among the civilian
\npopulation, making it difficult for the TNI and police to capture
\nthem.<\/p>\n
"Guerrilla war will take us a long time, not only months but
\nalso years, to finally win it," he said.<\/p>\n
Endang called on the locals to help the TNI crush the rebels
\nas soon as possible so the military could create peace.<\/p>\n
According to official TNI figures, they have arrested 2,600
\nsuspected GAM members and killed 800 others, with 134 taken to
\ncourt.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-discusses-aceh-recovery-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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