Govt rejects Aceh referendum<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Law and Legislation Affairs Yuzril
\nIhza Mahendra said on Thursday the government would not offer a
\nreferendum in seeking solution to the Aceh problem.<\/p>\n
"The government has to comply with the State Policy Guidelines
\n(GBHN) which stipulates a special autonomy for the province. If
\nAceh has to hold a referendum, the People's Consultative Assembly
\ndecree on GBHN has to be revised. So, that's why the government
\nwill not offer a referendum to solve the conflict," he said after
\nattending a plenary session at the House of Representatives held
\nto discuss the Aceh and Ambon issues.<\/p>\n
His comments were made just minutes after the House excised
\nany reference to a referendum in its agreed recommendations to
\nthe government on solving the Aceh issue.<\/p>\n
The House's special committee, which drafted the
\nrecommendations, initially included the option of a referendum
\nwithout specifying what the it would be for.<\/p>\n
This latest recommendation and Yusril's comments seem to run
\ncontrary to past statements by President Abdurrahman Wahid who
\nsaid he would agree to a referendum on the application of Islamic
\nlaw in the restive province.<\/p>\n
Yuzril remarked on Thursday that the government's stance on a
\nreferendum depended on the Assembly.<\/p>\n
"The authority to accept or reject the referendum is in the
\nhands of the Assembly. The government has no authority to make a
\ndecision on this matter," he said.<\/p>\n
Also attending Thursday's plenary session were Coordinating
\nMinister for Political and Security Affairs Gen. Wiranto,
\nMinister of Settlement and Territorial Development Erna Witular,
\nState Minister for Regional Autonomy Ryaas Rasyid and Home
\nAffairs Minister Surjadi Soedirdja.<\/p>\n
Ali Yahya, spokesman for the House's special committee on
\nAceh, said despite the referendum being struck out, the option
\nshould still be debated in public forums.<\/p>\n
"All sides are expected to give more attention to the Acehnese
\ndemand for a referendum. Let it be a topic of discussions in
\npublic forums and scientific meetings," he said.<\/p>\n
Among the recommendations put forward to the government were
\nthe implementation of special autonomy for Aceh and the trial of
\nperpetrators of human rights abuses.<\/p>\n
"We also recommended that the government not impose martial
\nlaw and, instead, hold dialogs with related groups to settle the
\nproblem peacefully," Ali Yahya remarked.<\/p>\n
He also said everyone in the province should avoid conflicts
\nand create a conducive climate for dialogs and negotiations.<\/p>\n
"The Aceh issue should be handled peacefully and all armed
\ngroups in the province should lay down their guns and go to the
\nnegotiating table," he said.<\/p>\n
The House also recommended the government to reopen the Sabang
\nfreeport, rebuild the railway connecting the provincial capital
\nof Banda Aceh to North Sumatra and build public infrastructures
\nto accelerate development programs in the province.<\/p>\n
Abductions<\/p>\n
As politicians haggled in Jakarta, Teuku Umar Military Resort
\nchief Col. Syarifuddin Tippe said in Banda Aceh that six military
\npersonnel were still missing after being abducted by unidentified
\narmed gangs during the past three months.<\/p>\n
"Most of the officers are missing because they left the group
\nduring patrols or operations in a disputed area. They're supposed
\nto stay together for their own safety," Syarifuddin said.<\/p>\n
Data from the Rencong II joint security task force show that
\n75 security personnel, 40 from the military and 35 from the
\npolice, have been killed in attacks by suspected separatist
\nrebels since May.<\/p>\n
Another 19 are declared missing. Injuries were put at 98.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the situation was relatively calm in Aceh with some
\nminor incidents in Lhokseumawe, North Aceh.<\/p>\n
A molotov cocktail was thrown at the Banda Sakti Military
\nsubdistrict office in Lhokseumawe on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n
"The cocktail was thrown from the back of the office at about
\n10:30 p.m.," North Aceh Military chief Lt. Col. Suyatno said on
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
No fatalities or injuries were reported.<\/p>\n
Earlier on Wednesday afternoon, a civilian named M. Gade
\nAbdullah, 21, who was walking with police personnel, was killed
\nwhen a homemade bomb was thrown in their direction.<\/p>\n
"A group of police officers were on their way home from a
\nganja sweeping operation when suddenly they were caught up in a
\nbomb blast in Alue Panah village. Gade died and a policeman was
\ninjured," North Aceh Police chief Lt. Col. Syafei Aksal said on
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
Paramedics at Lhokseumawe Hospital, who requested anonymity,
\nhowever, claimed that Gade died from gunshot wounds instead of
\nbomb fractures.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in Medan, North Sumatra, five jailed members of the
\nFree Aceh Movement (GAM) were released on Thursday, based on a
\ngovernment amnesty.<\/p>\n
President Abdurrahman last week gave clemency to 91 political
\nprisoners nationwide.<\/p>\n
The five were GAM's West Aceh chief Nur Imransyah, 25, and
\nfour of his friends: Munzir, 26, Mustafa, 25, Joni, 25 and Abdul
\nManaf, 24.<\/p>\n
They were charged for the murder of two soldiers in
\nJune.(39\/50\/edt\/rms)<\/p>",
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