More Aceh areas to be opened up to foreign visitors<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Citing better security conditions in Aceh after six months under
\na state of civil emergency, the provincial authorities have
\ndecided to lift its travel ban on foreigners in three regencies.<\/p>\n
However, civil emergency administrator Insp. Gen. Bachrumsyah
\nKasman said his administration would still closely monitor the
\nentry of foreign non-governmental organizations into the
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
Bachrumsyah said foreign tourists and investors would be
\nallowed to enter Singkil, Southeast Aceh and Gayo Lues regencies,<\/p>\n
\"We are also considering allowing foreign ships to dock at
\nSabang port,\" he said, referring to the province's northernmost
\nisland, which was declared a free trade zone in 2000.<\/p>\n
The decision follows a presidential regulation extending the
\nstate of civil emergency in the natural resource-rich province
\nfor another six months, effective from Nov. 19.<\/p>\n
During the first six months of civil emergency, the provincial
\nadministration lifted the travel ban on foreigners in Sabang and
\nSimeleue.<\/p>\n
Aceh was closed to foreigners, including foreign journalists
\nand NGO activists, during the martial law period from May 20003
\nto May 2004.<\/p>\n
Bachrumsyah, who is also the provincial police chief, said he
\nwould discuss further with the governor, local military chief and
\nprosecutor's office the possibility of allowing foreign NGOs to
\nresume their activities in those regencies that had been declared
\nopen to foreigners.<\/p>\n
\"There is one condition, that the NGOs don't incite people in
\nsuch a way as to worsen the conflict,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, the House of Representatives claimed that it had never
\nendorsed the extension of the civil emergency in the troubled
\nprovince, saying that the support of the House leaders was given
\nin their individual capacities.<\/p>\n
The House defense commission decided during an internal
\nmeeting that it did not support the extension and, in fact,
\nactually opposed it.<\/p>\n
\"The commission would like to correct the widely publicized
\nnews that the House has thrown its support behind the extension
\nof the civil emergency. It is just not true,\" House member
\nPermadi of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P)
\ntold The Jakarta Post after the meeting.<\/p>\n
Permadi also said that the commission had also agreed to
\nrevive the working group that had previously monitored the
\neffectiveness of the state of civil emergency in the strife-torn
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
\"This working group will visit Aceh and collect information
\nabout whether or not the Acehnese still need the civil emergency.
\nThe House should not only listen to what the government and non-
\ngovernmental organizations have to say about conditions in Aceh,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
The House's opposition, however, will not make much difference
\nas the government decision to extend the state of civil emergency
\ndoes not need the approval of the House. An endorsement from the
\nlegislature is required only for the imposition of martial law.<\/p>\n
Earlier in the day, all the factions in the House had been
\nsilent during a plenary meeting about the issue when House deputy
\nspeaker Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno reported the House leadership's
\ndecision to approve the government's policy on Aceh last week.
\nOnly the Prosperous Justice Party faction raised an objection,
\ndoubting that the renewal of the state of civil emergency would
\nachieve its desired objectives, and saying that it would only
\nperpetuate the suffering of ordinary Acehnese.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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