NU asks Acehnese to support Indonesia's special autonomy<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Noted Muslim leader Hasyim Muzadi called on the Acehnese to
\nsupport a special autonomy status, saying it would fulfill their
\nlong-standing demand for welfare.<\/p>\n
Hasyim, who chairs the country's largest Muslim organization,
\nthe Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), said special autonomy would be the
\nanswer to the problems of economic and social injustice that the
\nAcehnese had been fighting against, sparking some to wage a
\nrebellion under the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).<\/p>\n
"Being independent does not address Aceh's problems. People in
\nAceh will never know whether a party which is pushing for an
\nindependent state in Aceh manages to secure welfare for them,"
\nHasyim told reporters on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The 2001 Law on special autonomy for Aceh provides the locals
\nwith a lion's share of the 70 percent of oil and gas revenues.
\nThe law also regulates not only self-government but autonomy in
\nreligious, legal and fiscal affairs.<\/p>\n
Thousands of civilians have been killed in the armed conflict
\nbetween government troops and GAM rebels since the secessionist
\nmovement began in 1976.<\/p>\n
Hasyim was commenting on the cancellation of the Joint Council
\nmeeting between Jakarta and GAM representatives, after GAM
\ndemanded a two-day delay to the talks from its original schedule
\nof April 25.<\/p>\n
Jakarta has ordered security measures in Aceh to be
\nintensified while preparing for the deployment of reinforcement
\ntroops to the restive province. The Indonesian Military (TNI) has
\ninsisted that a military operation, should it take place, would
\nbe conducted without sacrificing civilian lives.<\/p>\n
Hasyim has also voiced his opposition to the use of military
\nforce.<\/p>\n
"The government has to realize that a military approach is
\ninappropriate as the fate of the province depends on its people,
\nwhich has nothing to do with GAM. Why don't we try other
\napproaches, such as religious and social ones?" Hasyim said.<\/p>\n
He urged GAM to be realistic in facing the fact that no
\ncountry in the world allows a secessionist movement.<\/p>\n
Earlier, Akbar Tandjung, the speaker of the House of
\nRepresentatives, and Juwono Sudarsono, a military expert and
\nformer minister of defense, recommended on Saturday that the use
\nof military force be the last resort in resolving Aceh's
\nproblems.<\/p>\n
Speaking on the sidelines of a seminar on nationalism held by
\nthe Golkar Party, Akbar said the House supported the government's
\nplan to continue a peace dialog with Aceh rebels but it had to be
\nconducted without sacrificing the sovereignty of the state.<\/p>\n
"We (the House) insist that the government addresses problems
\nin Aceh peacefully. But if the unitary state is put on the line,
\nI think we have no other option except for taking stern action
\nagainst GAM," said Akbar, who also chairs Golkar.<\/p>\n
He said that most political parties at the House would throw
\ntheir weight behind the government's plan to maintain security in
\nthe conflict-torn province.<\/p>\n
Juwono shared Akbar's opinion, but stressed that the
\ngovernment had to ensure that the military operation was prepared
\nto prevent civilian casualties.<\/p>\n
The government will decide its further steps in Aceh during a
\nCabinet meeting on Monday. The measures include a possible
\nmilitary operation to quell the separatist movement there and
\nefforts to save the Cessation of Hostilities deal it signed with
\nGAM in December last year.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/nu-asks-acehnese-to-support-indonesias-special-autonomy-1447893297",
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