Islamic law in Aceh imposed<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Aceh or Nanggroe Aceh Darusallam administration has
\nofficially put the special autonomy law and syariah (Islamic law)
\ninto effect.<\/p>\n
The implementation of the special autonomy law in the troubled
\nprovince would be followed with the formulation of Qanun (bylaws)
\non how the law is to be enacted.<\/p>\n
Secretary of the provincial administration Tanthawi Ishak told
\nthe press on Tuesday that the year 2002 could become a starting
\npoint for the Acehnese to move forward with autonomy.<\/p>\n
He said that his office was formulating the bylaws which were
\nexpected to be debated by the provincial legislative council in
\nFebruary.<\/p>\n
Teungku Sofyan Hamzah, an imam at the grand Baiturrahman
\nMosque, expressed hopes that its implementation would reduce
\ntensions in the province.<\/p>\n
\"Let us build the region for the sake of people's welfare in
\nthe future,\" he was quoted by Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
Asked about feelings of anxiety by some non-Muslims in Aceh
\nfollowing the implementation of the Islamic law, he said that the
\nminority should not worry. \"The administration will use national
\nlaw for them.\"<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, the province's legislative council had to delay
\nthe hearing on the formulation of the bylaws, because most
\nlegislators flew to Jakarta to meet Vice President Hamzah Haz.<\/p>\n
It was a second delay after the council failed to discuss five
\nof 24 bylaws on Dec. 2 of last year, speaker of the Legislative
\nCouncil Zaulius Usman said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\"The bylaws that were supposed to be discussed today were the
\nstrategic plan, regional development, the regional development
\nprogram, financial balancing between the province and districts,
\nand on natural resources.\"<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in Jakarta, the central government would likely
\nmaintain its power to control the troubled region by insisting on
\nits plan to revive a military command there, despite the special
\nautonomy law.<\/p>\n
Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh argued on Wednesday that
\nthousands of police and military troops currently stationed in
\nAceh to guard the province had failed to maximize their roles due
\nto the absence of a military command in Aceh.<\/p>\n
Speaking to reporters after meeting with the Coordinating
\nMinister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang
\nYudhoyono at the Minister's office, Abdullah said that the
\nreestablishment of a military command had nothing to do with
\nsecurity matters, but was merely \"to shorten the range of
\ncommand\".<\/p>\n
He declined to reveal when the plan would materialize.<\/p>\n
Asked whether the local administration would continue dialog
\nwith all elements in Aceh, including the Free Aceh Movement
\n(GAM), Abdullah said: \"We will continue dialog with GAM, but
\nthings have a limit. The dialog must also be held in the frame of
\nthe Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, and GAM must
\nrespect the special autonomy law, as well as any deals reached in
\nthe dialogs.\"<\/p>\n
Early in the day, Abdullah, along with 11 regents, 4 mayors,
\n13 provincial councillors, and chairmen of all factions of the
\ncouncil, met Vice President Hamzah Haz to report the latest
\nsituation in the province following the implementation of the
\nspecial autonomy law.<\/p>\n
None of them would comment on the reestablishment of the
\nmilitary command in Aceh.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Minister of Defense Matori Abdul Djalil told
\nreporters at the same venue that the government would fully
\nsupport the revival of the military command. \"The Acehnese
\nrealize how worthwhile the military's presence is in such a
\nrestive province.\"<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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