Muslims want autonomy, Islamic law for Aceh<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of Muslim activists held two separate
\nrallies here on Wednesday demanding autonomy and Islamic law for
\nAceh, and the withdrawal of troops from the restive province.<\/p>\n
Chanting \"Allahu Akbar\" (God is Great), some 500 members of
\nthe United Islamic Front Caring for Aceh demonstrated outside the
\nMinistry of Home Affairs in Central Jakarta. The second group,
\nsome 50 members of the Joint Action for Aceh, held a rally in
\nfront of the Ministry of Defense and Security, also in Central
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
Yet another demonstration against military operation was held
\non Wednesday in Yogyakarta's Gadjah Mada University, involving
\nsome 200 students and youths. \"Fire Wiranto!\" the students said
\nin one of their banners, in reference to Indonesian Military
\n(TNI) Chief Gen. Wiranto.<\/p>\n
Separately, the Islamic Justice Party (PK) held a media
\nconference at its headquarters in South Jakarta to call for a
\npeaceful solution in Aceh, to allow the populace the opportunity
\nto heal the wounds they suffered under the previous regime. The
\nparty also called on the government to respect the Acehnese's
\ndesire for autonomy on religious affairs and education, and for
\nthe opportunity to assert their cultural characteristics.<\/p>\n
\"We are calling on the government and the administration in
\nAceh to take immediate action to reduce the conflicts; namely by
\naccommodating the aspirations of the Acehnese and holding
\nintensive dialogs... with the aim of reaching a comprehensive
\nsolution to the crisis,\" the party said in a statement signed by
\nits president Nurmahmudi Ismail.<\/p>\n
The party also called on the Indonesian Military and the
\nNational Police to exercise self-restraint in their operations in
\nAceh, and to be aware of how their activities could violate the
\nrights of the Acehnese.<\/p>\n
All this occurred in Jakarta as reports came in that suspected
\nseparatist rebels ambushed and killed an Army sergeant in North
\nAceh. Local military chief Col. Suyatno was quoted by AP as
\nsaying Sgt. Jamaluddin was shot on Tuesday by a gunman as he rode
\nhis motorcycle through a village in the area.<\/p>\n
The shooting occurred as leaflets appeared throughout the
\nprovince urging Acehnese soldiers and policemen to desert
\nsecurity forces.<\/p>\n
\"If you do not leave the military and police, your lives will
\nbe in danger,\" read one of the leaflets, signed by the separatist
\nFree Aceh Movement (GAM).<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, the protesters at the home affairs ministry called
\nfor regional autonomy and the implementation of Islamic law in
\nAceh, as well as the withdrawal of Crack Riot Troops from the
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
The military recently announced a six-month police operation
\ninvolving some 7,000 police officers, auxiliaries and troops, to
\ncrush separatist rebels in Aceh, where more than 200 people have
\ndied in a recent wave of violence.<\/p>\n
Calls have been growing for the military to pull out a 3,100-
\nstrong special riot force from the province, but Wiranto has
\nruled out a withdrawal.<\/p>\n
Outside the home affairs ministry, activist Jimmy Muhammad
\nsaid: \"We want the sharia in Aceh now. In other areas later, if
\npossible.\" Sharia is Muslim law.<\/p>\n
In front of the Ministry of Defense and Security, protesters
\nurged Wiranto to meet their demand for a military pullout or
\nresign if he was unable to do so. They waved banners and posters,
\nsome of which read: \"When will Aceh be free of its miseries,\"
\n\"Stop the cruelty in the Land of Rencong\" and \"Bring to court the
\nhuman rights violators in Aceh,\" Antara news agency reported.
\nRencong in a traditional Acehnese dagger.<\/p>\n
Separately, Republika daily quoted on Tuesday Abdullah
\nSyafi'i, the commander of the Free Aceh Movement in Pidie
\nregency, as saying his group would not hold talks with the
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
\"Aceh is our motherland, taken by force by Indonesia. What is
\nthe point of a dialog\" with the government, Abdullah said.<\/p>\n
The government has said it would not negotiate with the
\nseparatist rebels, who it called criminals. The government,
\nhowever, has promised to grant the rebels general amnesty, with
\nthe approval of Wiranto, if they surrendered.<\/p>\n
Justice minister Muladi has also said the possibility is open
\nfor talks with exiled GAM leader Hasan Tiro, on condition that he
\nagree to talk as an Acehnese community leader, not as a
\nseparatist leader.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in Batam, the National Commission on Human Rights is
\nurging President B.J. Habibie to find a political settlement for
\nthe Aceh question. Commission member Bambang Soeharto was quoted
\nby Antara as saying on Tuesday it was important the government
\ngive the Aceh administration the full authority to settle its
\nproblems.<\/p>\n
\"We have urged President Habibie to politically settle the
\nAceh case, because the military approach has not been able to
\nsettle the case,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said dialogs involving all parties, including separatist
\nrebels, should be held. \"To invite the rebels to a dialog would
\nnot mean the government recognize the existence of the separatist
\nmovement.\" (23\/anr\/swe)<\/p>",
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