Megawati dashes Aceh's hope for peace<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Acehnese lashed out at President Megawati Soekarnoputri on
\nThursday for her pledge to impose harsher measures against the
\nsecessionist movement there.<\/p>\n
In an expression of regret, Muslim preachers, students and
\nactivists from the restive territory said the statement Megawati
\nhad made before the People's Consultative Assembly would only
\nheighten tension in the province.<\/p>\n
\"Sterner action from the government against the separatist
\nmovement will only spread fear among ordinary people, especially
\nvillagers,\" local Muhammadiyah chairman Imam Suja said in Banda
\nAceh, as quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
He underlined that Aceh people were licking their wounds
\nresulting from the decades-long military operation to quell the
\nAceh Separatist Movement (GAM), which ended in 1998. The
\noperation is believed to have resulted in human rights
\nviolations.<\/p>\n
\"The government should stop making statements that will only
\nworsen the security condition in the province,\" Imam said.<\/p>\n
In her verbal progress report made to the Assembly, the
\nPresident stated her conviction that there was no way to deal
\nwith the rebels other than to increase military action.<\/p>\n
Megawati claimed that GAM had violated all peace agreements
\nwith the government and therefore tougher measures were needed,
\nwithout forgetting Aceh's painful experience or precluding
\nattempts to hold dialog.<\/p>\n
The President's statement contradicted her own remarks as a
\npresidential candidate in 1999, when she promised to end all
\nbloodshed in Aceh once she led the country.<\/p>\n
Imam further suggested that the government think twice before
\nimposing military control in Aceh as history had proven that the
\ndecision had failed to stop the clamor for freedom.<\/p>\n
\"I cannot imagine the feelings of people at the grass roots.
\nAlready, they are tired of living through this prolonged
\nconflict,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Activists of the Rencong Land Students Association (IMTR)
\nsaid Megawati's statement reflected the government's desperate
\nstate in dealing with the Aceh issue.<\/p>\n
\"The statement disclosed that the government had failed to set
\na clear course to solve Aceh's problems,\" IMTR chairman Mohammad
\nIqbal said in Bogor, West Java.<\/p>\n
He asserted that it was impossible for the government to
\npromote dialog and respect human rights, while at the same time
\nflexing its muscles with an extensive military operation that
\nwould cause the Acehnese to suffer.<\/p>\n
The students stressed that the government had to choose
\nwhether to open up the chance for dialog or simply impose a
\nmilitary crackdown to end the problem once and for all.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Aceh Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) said that
\nMegawati's decision had shut the door for peace talks in the
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
\"I understand that the President no longer has an intention to
\nput forward dialog, but to rely on a military approach to solve
\nthe problems in the province,\" LBH local chairman Rufriadi said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/megawati-dashes-acehs-hope-for-peace-1447893297",
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