Problems in regions settled peacefully: Mega<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta\/Surabaya\/Jambi<\/p>\n
Outgoing President Megawati Soekarnoputri said on Tuesday her
\ngovernment had endeavored to settle disputes in the regions
\nthrough peaceful means and dialog, which in some cases had lead
\nto the granting of special autonomy.<\/p>\n
Megawati said that in a bid to ensure national unity, the
\ngovernment had offered either special autonomy or an integrated
\ndevelopment program to some regions that wished to separate from
\nthe republic.<\/p>\n
\"This is the utmost form of settlement. It must not go beyond
\nthat,\" the President said in her speech while presiding over a
\nceremony to mark the 59th anniversary of the TNI here.<\/p>\n
The government under Megawati deployed combat troops to Aceh
\nand Papua to crush the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and the Free
\nPapua Movement (OPM) separatist rebels respectively.<\/p>\n
Both provinces were granted special autonomy in 2000 and 2001
\nrespectively in a move to ease tension in the natural resource-
\nrich provinces.<\/p>\n
The status allows them to enjoy a bigger share of the revenue
\nthan other provinces get from the central government.<\/p>\n
Before and after Megawati took office in 2001, the government
\nhad been involved in peace talks with GAM. The talks collapsed in
\nMay 2003, prompting the government to impose martial law in Aceh.<\/p>\n
The government downgraded the status to a state of civil
\nemergency in May 2004 after security conditions improved there.<\/p>\n
\"The downgrading to a state of civilian emergency implies that
\nthere would be fewer additional emergency personnel who would
\nimpinge on the rights of the people and there would be more
\npersonnel available to improve the welfare of the people in that
\nregion,\" she added.<\/p>\n
Megawati also expressed optimism that the TNI would commit to
\nreform.<\/p>\n
She said the TNI would be responsible for defending the
\ncountry's sovereignty and territorial integrity and for
\nmaintaining the dignity and safety of the nation.<\/p>\n
The National Police had taken over the task of maintaining
\nsecurity and public order, enforce the law, protect, safeguard
\nand serve the community.<\/p>\n
Regarding the recently endorsed TNI bill, Megawati said the
\nmilitary's professionalism could be improved despite some
\nshortcomings in the bill.<\/p>\n
In other cities, TNI's 59th anniversary was marked with
\nrallies.<\/p>\n
In Surabaya, protesters renewed demands for the dissolution of
\nmilitary offices in the regions, including the regional military
\ncommand in the province, the military district command in its
\nregencies, the military subdistrict command in its subdistricts.<\/p>\n
They also urged the government to confiscate the wealth of
\nmilitary generals and redistribute the assets to the people.<\/p>\n
In Jambi, several student groups protested against the TNI
\nbill, claiming that it would revive militaristic approaches
\npracticed by the ironfisted New Order government.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/problems-in-regions-settled-peacefully-mega-1447893297",
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