Mega delays Aceh trip, sets agenda<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Megawati Soekarnoputri officially
\npostponed on Friday her visit to Aceh planned for Sunday and
\ninstructed aides to hasten the judicial process for past rights
\nabuses in the province along with a meaningful dialog in an
\nattempt to resolve the conflict there.<\/p>\n
The decision to delay the visit was announced after a four-
\nhour limited Cabinet meeting here, which was held to specifically
\ndiscuss developments in Aceh.<\/p>\n
No clear reason for the postponement was given, with Aceh
\nGovernor Abdullah Puteh citing "technical reasons" after the
\nmeeting.<\/p>\n
Abdullah said the tentative schedule would allow for the
\nPresident to hold a two-day visit beginning next Wednesday or
\nSaturday.<\/p>\n
"We need time to further discuss the preparations and
\ndetermine areas she can visit," he explained.<\/p>\n
Growing unrest in Aceh has continued unabated.<\/p>\n
Various conciliatory attempts made by the government,
\nincluding the recent introduction of a special autonomy law, have
\nfailed to suppress growing separatist moves in the province.<\/p>\n
Megawati has said she would allow Acehnese to implement the
\nNanggroe Aceh Darussalam special autonomy law, describing it as
\nthe widest leeway that the Indonesian government can afford.<\/p>\n
Independence remains out of the question.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the substance of Megawati's visit to Aceh has
\nattracted widespread skepticism, as no clear political agenda had
\nbeen put forward other than convening a dialog with local
\nfigures.<\/p>\n
But Friday's Cabinet meeting -- also attended by Coordinating
\nMinister for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla, Coordinating Minister
\nfor the Economy Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti, Minister of Foreign
\nAffairs Hassan Wirayuda, Minister of Defense Matori Abdul Djalil,
\nIndonesian Military Commander Adm. Widodo A.S. and National
\nPolice Chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro -- seemed to add more "meat"
\nto Megawati's agenda for Aceh as she outlined a platform for the
\ngovernment to pursue.<\/p>\n
The strategy complies with what many observers have urged:
\nresolving past abuses, engaging in a comprehensive dialog and
\nsocioeconomic development in the province through the special
\nautonomy law.<\/p>\n
The President on Friday instructed Attorney General M.A.
\nRachman to speed up the judicial process on past rights abuses
\ncommitted in the province.<\/p>\n
The previous government prioritized five cases, all allegedly
\ninvolving military personnel.<\/p>\n
One case -- the shooting to death of 65 people at a Muslim
\nboarding school run by Teuku Bantaqiah in Blan Meurandeh,
\nBeutong, in July 1999 -- has already been prosecuted, with
\nseveral soldiers sentenced or dismissed. Progress on another
\ncase, the killing of 39 civilians at Simpang KKA in May 1999,
\nremains stalled.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
\nSusilo Bambang Yudhoyono referred after the meeting to "three
\nremaining major cases in Aceh" which needed to be resolved.<\/p>\n
The three cases are believed to be the rape of a woman in
\nPidie in 1996; disappearances, acts of torture and kidnappings
\noccurring between 1997 and 1998 related to the use of a rumah
\ngeudong (slaughter house); and the killing of seven people in
\nEast Aceh in 1999.<\/p>\n
Susilo also said ministers had been ordered to engage in an
\neffective dialog over the next two months, incorporating all
\nparties in Aceh with a clear timetable and discernible goals.<\/p>\n
"The President explicitly mentioned that in the next two
\nmonths there should be a more effective and efficient dialog with
\nall parties in Aceh," Susilo remarked.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, Susilo warned that there would be no relaxation
\nof "law enforcement actions".<\/p>\n
"So we'll continue our legal efforts to extinguish separatist
\nmovements in Aceh and at the same time hold an all-inclusive
\ndialog with all parties in the province to find a real solution,"
\nSusilo said.<\/p>\n
He further claimed that the President signaled her support for
\nreviewing Presidential Instruction No.4\/2001 on the restoration
\nof law and order in Aceh, which has been severely criticized by
\nmany parties. (dja)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mega-delays-aceh-trip-sets-agenda-1447893297",
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