Indonesia gets support against separatism<\/p>\n
MANILA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid gained regional
\nsupport in fighting successionist groups in Indonesia on Sunday,
\nand pledged that he would defend the integrity of the nation "at
\nall costs".<\/p>\n
While Abdurrahman's presence at a summit of East Asian leaders
\nhere was not specifically aimed at curtailing support for
\nAcehnese separatism, the issue was notably mentioned, in
\nparticular by the hosts, and was a boost for Indonesia's new
\npresident.<\/p>\n
One paragraph of the 39-point Chairman's Statement, read out
\nby Philippine President Joseph Estrada after the summit, spelled
\nout the clear view of all 13 leaders.<\/p>\n
"President Abdurrahman Wahid of Indonesia briefed the meeting
\non the latest developments in Aceh. In this connection, the heads
\nof state\/government reiterated their full respect for the
\nsovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of
\nIndonesia," point seven of the statement read.<\/p>\n
The informal summit was attended by leaders from the
\nAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) -- Brunei,
\nCambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines,
\nSingapore, Thailand and Vietnam -- along with China, Japan and
\nSouth Korea.<\/p>\n
Usually ASEAN refrains from directly delving into members'
\ndomestic issues.<\/p>\n
Aceh was among the several regional political and economic
\nissues touched on in the one-day summit and the Chairman's
\nStatement.<\/p>\n
Speaking to journalists, Estrada again underlined that "Aceh
\nis part of the territory of the Republic of Indonesia."<\/p>\n
He said no one should draw similarities between it and East
\nTimor which broke away from Indonesia after the Aug. 30 ballot.<\/p>\n
"This is different from East Timor," Estrada said. "We are
\nsupporting Indonesia to protect its territorial integrity."<\/p>\n
Separately, Abdurrahman said he was deeply encouraged by the
\nmoral support, stressing that he did not perceive it as domestic
\ninterference.<\/p>\n
He expressed a hard line when asked about continued demands
\nfor an independent Aceh, "We will defend our territorial
\nintegrity at all cost".<\/p>\n
The restive province has seen increased calls for independence
\nin recent months. Abdurrahman said he would support a referendum
\nthere but only for the option of implementing Islamic law, not
\nindependence.<\/p>\n
Sources said the initiative to discuss the Aceh issue and put
\nit into the Chairman's Statement came especially from Singaporean
\nPrime Minister Goh Chok Tong, following Abdurrahman's own
\nwillingness to openly discuss the issue.<\/p>\n
When asked to confirm whether he would go to Aceh next week,
\nAbdurrahman retorted he would only go after the government had
\nformulated its final offer on Aceh.<\/p>\n
But Aceh is not the only troubling development in Indonesia,
\nand Abdurrahman seemed at a loss when asked about sectarian
\nclashes in Maluku which have claimed over 550 lives.<\/p>\n
He conceded that the problems there were very complicated.<\/p>\n
"It is not easy to solve," he said.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman's press briefing in the end turned to be somewhat
\nof an embarrassment to Minister of Industry and Trade Yusuf
\nKalla, who was also present.<\/p>\n
When an Indonesian journalist asked the minister to comment on
\nthe economic aspects of the summit, Abdurrahman mistook the
\nquestion for one addressed to himself and thought it pertained to
\nallegations Yusuf was being investigated for corruption.<\/p>\n
"There is still no decision from the attorney general on him,"
\nAbdurrahman remarked, as a bemused and speechless Yusuf looked
\non.<\/p>\n
Clash<\/p>\n
Meanwhile it was reported that in Banda Aceh a clash broke out
\nbetween soldiers and a crowd of about 50 men in Lamtamot village,
\nSeulimun district, West Aceh, late Saturday.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Military (TNI) sources claimed that a crowd of 50
\npeople were illegally checking and inspecting vehicles when they
\nstopped a car carrying six TNI members.<\/p>\n
However, a local daily wrote the incident occurred as soldiers
\ntried to disperse the residents marching to a Free Aceh Movement
\n(GAM) rally.<\/p>\n
Banda Aceh Military Commander Lt. Col. Ferdinan confirmed the
\nincident and claimed that the dispute broke out, when, after
\nstopping the vehicle containing soldiers, one of the locals
\npulled out a sharp weapon and stabbed a soldier.<\/p>\n
"The soldiers were forced to open fire because they had to
\ndefend themselves amid such sweeping operations," Ferdinan said.<\/p>\n
As the situation remained tense throughout the province, the
\nexodus out of it continued.<\/p>\n
In Malahayati seaport in Aceh Besar, people flocked to the
\nport waiting to be shipped out of the province on Sunday.<\/p>\n
At least 700 people boarded the Sangiang which was headed for
\na North Sumatran port. The ferry normally accommodates just 500
\npassengers.<\/p>\n
At another part of the seaport, hundreds of personnel from the
\nNational Police's Mobile Brigade arrived.<\/p>\n
They were picked up by at least four trucks. The fully armed
\nentourage was tightly guarded heading to Banda Aceh.<\/p>\n
In a separate development, two French tourists were killed in
\na traffic accident in Banda Aceh on Saturday.<\/p>\n
They were identified them as Vincent Cueschaoi, 28, and Pompac
\nWilliem, 28.<\/p>\n
The two were riding a motorbike in Banda Aceh when they
\nbrushed into a truck at Jl. Simpang Rima and were dragged several
\nmeters.<\/p>\n
They were taken to hospital where they later died due to their
\nwounds. (emf\/50)<\/p>",
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