President Susilo rules out foreign role in Aceh<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono ruled out on Thursday a
\nforeign role in Aceh, while also offering amnesty to rebels who
\ngave up their armed struggle.<\/p>\n
Susilo said the problems in Aceh would be solved without any
\nforeign intervention and that the National Commission on Human
\nRights (Komnas HAM) would be actively involved in observing the
\nstate of civil emergency there.<\/p>\n
\"The government wants to settle the problem domestically, in
\nthe spirit of brotherhood, so that the results we all hope for
\nwill be achieved,\" said Susilo, who left for Chile on Thursday to
\nattend the 10th Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.<\/p>\n
Promising to resolve the Aceh issue fairly and with dignity,
\nSusilo issued on Thursday a presidential regulation officially
\nextending the state of civil emergency in Aceh for six months.<\/p>\n
\"The state of civil emergency has been officially extended and
\nthe government invites Komnas HAM to conduct their work in Aceh,
\nin accordance with the law,\" the President said.<\/p>\n
Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels have been fighting for
\nindependence in Aceh since 1976. The province was placed under
\nmartial law on May 19, 2003, with the status being lowered to a
\nstate of civil emergency one year later.<\/p>\n
Presidential Regulation No. 2\/2004 says that the state of
\ncivil emergency in Aceh will be extended by six months at the
\nmost, with an evaluation every month to determine whether the
\ncivil emergency can be lifted.<\/p>\n
Under the civil emergency status, local authorities have the
\npower to search houses, censor the press and impose curfews and
\nother restrictions.<\/p>\n
Susilo, who took his oath of office on Oct. 20, said the
\ngovernment appreciated expressions of support from foreign
\nagencies and countries, but Aceh was an internal problem of
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
Previous negotiations between the government and rebel leaders
\nwere facilitated by the Geneva-based Henry Dunant Centre, which
\nled to a short-lived peace agreement in 2002.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, the son of Libyan leader Moammar Kadhafi
\noffered his country's help in resolving the conflict. Many
\nguerrilla leaders in Aceh are believed to have trained in Libya.<\/p>\n
Susilo called on GAM members on Thursday to stop their
\nrebellion, promising amnesty for rebels who put down their
\nweapons.<\/p>\n
\"The government calls on all (rebel) leaders to stop their
\nactions and accept the special autonomy policy to develop Aceh.<\/p>\n
\"The country will give them pardons and provide post-conflict
\nreconstruction assistance as part of our efforts to end the
\nconflict in Aceh,\" Susilo said.<\/p>\n
A rebel spokesman, Abdullah Zaini, dismissed the offer and
\ncalled on Susilo's government to return to the negotiating table.<\/p>\n
\"Nothing can change our struggle for independence,\" Zaini told
\nAssociated Press in a phone interview from Sweden.<\/p>\n
\"Aceh is our country and it must be returned to the Acehnese
\npeople. We hope the new leader in Indonesia will reopen the door
\nfor negotiations and bring peace to Aceh,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Box<\/p>\n
President Susilo extended the state of civil emergency in Aceh by
\nissuing a presidential regulation instead of a presidential
\ndecree, as was the case under previous presidents.<\/p>\n
The Cabinet deputy secretary for law and legislation, Lambock
\nV. Nahattands, said the decision to issue a presidential
\nregulation was based on Law No. 10\/2004 on government
\nregulations.<\/p>\n
The law recognizes two rulings -- one deals with regulations
\nand the other with assignments or appointments. Rulings dealing
\nwith regulations are called presidential regulations, while
\nrulings dealing with appointments -- such as the appointment of
\nstate officials -- are called presidential decrees.<\/p>\n
The law also places the Constitution as the highest law in the
\ncountry, followed by laws or government regulations in lieu of
\nlaw, government regulations and presidential regulations.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/president-susilo-rules-out-foreign-role-in-aceh-1447893297",
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