President may impose martial law in Aceh<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Cabinet ministers have proposed the imposition of martial law in
\nAceh as a last resort to crush the Free Aceh Movement (GAM),
\nthough President Megawati Soekarnoputri insisted the matter would
\nbe decided after a consultation meeting with the House of
\nRepresentatives scheduled for May 15.<\/p>\n
Under Law No. 23\/1959 on emergencies, the president has the
\nauthority to declare martial law in the country or a region
\nwithout approval from the House.<\/p>\n
"The meeting's agenda is the government's plan to quell the
\nAceh secessionist group," Coordinating Minister for Political and
\nSecurity Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said here on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Minister for Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra
\nsaid separately that martial law had been discussed since the
\nCabinet meeting last week, but the President had yet to make a
\ndecision.<\/p>\n
"The Cabinet recommended martial law be imposed for a limited
\ntime, for example six months, to minimize possible gross
\nviolations of human rights, which can happen in such large-scale
\noperations," Yusril said.<\/p>\n
GAM's refusal to lay down its arms and to denounce its fight
\nfor independence have led the government to the brink of
\nlaunching a military operation in the province, which would have
\nthe stated goal of ending the 27-year conflict in Aceh that has
\nclaimed more than 12,000 lives.<\/p>\n
Sources say the Indonesian Military (TNI) has been pushing the
\ngovernment to declare martial law, while Susilo, who has been
\nfully involved in diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict,
\nremains undecided.<\/p>\n
TNI chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto said he supported the
\nplanned consultation meeting with the House.<\/p>\n
Yusril said the meeting was not obligatory, "but in the spirit
\nof partnership we should hold it".<\/p>\n
Megawati's policy in Aceh will likely play a role in deciding
\nher future political career. A successful military operation to
\nend the conflict would undoubtedly help smooth the way for her
\nreelection in 2004.<\/p>\n
If Megawati decides to impose martial law in Aceh it would be
\na reversal from an earlier promise she made that there would be
\nno more bloodshed in the resource-rich province.<\/p>\n
Under martial law, the military would have full authority to
\ntake all necessary steps to quell the separatist movement and
\nrestore security and order.<\/p>\n
According to the emergency law, martial law can be used to
\nisolate the province from the rest of the country, stemming the
\nflow of goods and information into Aceh.<\/p>\n
All activities in Aceh would be under the control of security
\nofficials, who would have the power to detain people for 20 days
\nwithout charging them with a crime.<\/p>\n
The country last imposed martial law in 1999 in the former
\nprovince of East Timor, following the United Nations-sponsored
\nballot that led to the territory's independence. The government
\nalso launched a military operation in Aceh from 1989 to 1998.<\/p>\n
Megawati's father, founding president Sukarno, imposed martial
\nlaw on the entire country in 1959 after the legislature failed to
\nformulate a new constitution for the country.<\/p>\n
With war in Aceh looming, Megawati has yet to address the
\nnation about what is happening in the province.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the tension continues to rise in Aceh as both GAM
\nand the TNI prepare for war.<\/p>\n
The flow of refugees, especially from regencies such as Pidie
\nand Central Aceh that are traditionally centers of violence,
\ncontinues to increase, with thousands of Acehnese seeking to
\nescape the coming conflict.<\/p>\n
Despite the increased tension, however, for the first time in
\ntwo weeks there were no reported battles between GAM and the TNI
\non Tuesday.<\/p>\n
CONDITIONS OF MARTIAL LAW ACCORDING TO LAW NO. 23\/1959 ON
\nEMERGENCIES<\/p>\n
The military government has the right to:<\/p>\n
- ban the production and distribution of explosive materials<\/p>\n
- control all communications, including radio and telephone<\/p>\n
- close public or private facilities<\/p>\n
- ban the distribution of goods in the area<\/p>\n
- control air, land and sea transportation<\/p>\n
- ban all means of information, including publications,
\nannouncements and pictures<\/p>\n
- confiscate and destroy personal letters, as well as banning
\nthe transfer of funds into the area<\/p>\n
- seize, alter or destroy any news publications<\/p>\n
- move, detain or ban people from leaving the area should it
\nconsider such measures necessary<\/p>\n
- order civilians to work to support the military operation<\/p>\n
- detain people for 20 days without charge, though the
\ndetentions must be reported within 14 days after arrest,
\nif considered necessary, detentions can be extended for
\nup to 50 days.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/president-may-impose-martial-law-in-aceh-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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