House endorses martial law for Aceh<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
House of Representatives speakers on Monday endorsed the
\ngovernment's decision to impose martial law in Aceh, the basis of
\nlaunching a military offensive against Free Aceh Movement (GAM)
\nseparatists.<\/p>\n
House speaker Akbar Tandjung said the government had consulted
\nHouse leaders about the offensive.<\/p>\n
"The House has given full support to the government to take
\nthe necessary action (against GAM)," said Akbar, also chairman of
\nthe Golkar Party, the second largest party in the House.<\/p>\n
House deputy speaker AM Fatwa from the National Mandate Party
\nconcurred.<\/p>\n
"When people in Aceh feel troubled by an armed group seeking
\nto secede from the unitary state of Indonesia, security
\nrestoration is a must," Fatwa said in the South Sulawesi
\nprovincial capital of Makassar.<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri signed a presidential decree
\nlate Sunday declaring martial law in Aceh, legalizing all out war
\nagainst GAM.<\/p>\n
The decree was signed minutes after last-ditch talks between
\nthe government and GAM representatives in Tokyo failed to salvage
\na peace deal.<\/p>\n
However, Muslim figure Ahmad Syafii Maarif said the imposition
\nof martial law in Aceh would fail to resolve the ongoing armed
\nconflict.<\/p>\n
"The Acehnese have long been traumatized by the imposition of
\nthe New Order's one-decade military operation. Therefore, the
\nfresh martial law status will definitely not support any
\nintegrated conflict resolution," he said on Monday.<\/p>\n
He feared martial law would only raise resentment against the
\ncentral government. Approximately 10,000 Acehnese were killed
\nduring the 1988-1998 military operation.<\/p>\n
Syafii and other influential figures including former foreign
\nminister Ali Alatas, former home affairs minister Soerjadi
\nSudirdja and former United Development Party chairman Ismail
\nHasan Meutareum are members of the government's team of experts
\nattempting to solve the crisis.<\/p>\n
As martial law was already in place, Syafii suggested the
\nmilitary and police protect civilians during their hunt for GAM
\nsoldiers.<\/p>\n
"Professionalism among military and police personnel is a
\nprerequisite in the imposition of martial law. Moreover, the
\ncentral government should also pay more attention to the
\npsychological impact of the military operation on the Acehnese,"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Syafii believed there was still a chance for dialog between
\nthe Indonesian government and GAM, by replacing the mediator, the
\nHenry Dunant Centre, with Acehnese figures who understood the
\nproblems in Aceh.<\/p>\n
"That means no more foreign mediators or facilitators. The
\ncentral government should hold a dialog with GAM directly through
\npsychological, cultural, religious and customary approaches in a
\nbid to obtain Acehnese sympathy."<\/p>\n
Separately on Monday, a number of civil society groups held
\nrallies in Jakarta to oppose the military operation in Aceh.<\/p>\n
One group of Acehnese activists held a rally at the Hotel
\nIndonesia traffic circle to oppose the military operation and
\ndemand a referendum to end the conflict.<\/p>\n
Another group, led by the Committee of Mass Prayer for Peace
\nand Justice in Aceh, held a mass prayer at Taman Ismail Marzuki
\nplaza in Jl. Cikini Raya, Central Jakarta.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/house-endorses-martial-law-for-aceh-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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