Ramli installed as Aceh governor amid protests<\/p>\n
BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Ramli Ridwan was swore in on Wednesday
\nas the acting Aceh governor replacing Syamsuddin Mahmud in a
\nceremony presided over by Minister of Home Affairs Surjadi
\nSoedirdja.<\/p>\n
"The acting governor has been given between three and six
\nmonths to prepare for the election of a new governor. And I hope
\neveryone here will support him in his efforts conduct a fair and
\ndemocratic gubernatorial election," Surjadi said after the
\ninauguration.<\/p>\n
Ramli, a senior staff member at the home affairs ministry, was
\nnamed a replacement for Syamsuddin, who was sent packing
\nfollowing a vote of no-confidence from the provincial legislature
\non April 29. Syamsuddin's second five-year term was supposed to
\nend in 2003.<\/p>\n
Syamsuddin, 65, a Belgian-trained economist and professor at
\nSyah Kuala University, has rejected an offer by President
\nAbdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid to become deputy chief of the
\nNational Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), saying he was
\ntoo old and "the job carries political connotations". The post's
\nage limit is 60, while Syamsuddin is 65.<\/p>\n
Surjadi regretted Syamsuddin's refusal.<\/p>\n
"Actually his (Syamsuddin) expertise in monetary subjects is
\nbadly needed. That is why President Gus Dur used his prerogative
\nto offer him the deputy Bappenas chief post," Surjadi said.<\/p>\n
The ceremony at Anjong Mon Mata hall in the gubernatorial
\noffice began at about 10 a.m. under tight security. Around 1,000
\npolice personnel and three armored vehicles were deployed around
\nthe compound.<\/p>\n
Outside the office complex on Jl. Tengku Daud Beureweh,
\nhundreds of students continued a two-day old rally demanding the
\ndispersion of council.<\/p>\n
The students are determined to occupy the council building,
\nthe walls of which have been scrawled with graffiti.<\/p>\n
Violence in the riot-stricken province has claimed more than
\n400 lives this year.<\/p>\n
Since the signing of a peace accord between the Free Aceh
\nMovement (GAM) and the Indonesian government on May 12 in Geneva
\nat least 40 people have died.<\/p>\n
Separately in Sawang, North Aceh, the mutilated body of
\nFahruddin Musa, 52, was found by locals on wasteland in Lhok
\nGajah, North Aceh Police chief Lt. Col. Syafei Aksal said on
\nWednesday. "The man was reported missing on June 13 from his
\nhouse in Tepin Siron village in Gandapura," he said.<\/p>\n
Five men have also been abducted by gunmen in North Aceh over
\nthe past couple of days, Syafei added.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, at least 500 people from the Aceh Referendum
\nInformation Center (SIRA) staged a protest at the House of
\nRepresentatives building on Wednesday, demanding the resignation
\nof legislators representing Aceh.<\/p>\n
The protesters dragged Aceh legislators Julius Usman and
\nKarimun Usman -- both from the Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle (PDI Perjuangan) -- from their hearing rooms.<\/p>\n
Legislator Erwin Pardede was beaten and kicked by the
\nprotesters when trying to defend Karimun. They both refused to
\nunpin their House insignia.<\/p>\n
Julius and Karimun were asked to take off their jackets and
\nforced to sit down to hear the protesters' demands. A large
\nbanner reading "Referendum" was unfurled in the House compound.<\/p>\n
The legislators refused to answer when the protesters asked
\nthem if they would resign if the House rejected an independence
\nreferendum for Aceh.<\/p>\n
The protesters' behavior was regretted by chairman of the
\nHouse Commission II for legal and domestic affairs Amin Aryoso.<\/p>\n
"It's too much and should be classified as anarchy. They
\nshouldn't come here if they don't believe in the House," Amin
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the House Commission I for defense, foreign and
\npolitical affairs Yasril Ananta Burhanuddin condemned the
\nprotesters.<\/p>\n
"Where is the security for the legislators?," Yasril said in a
\nhearing with defense minister Juwono Sudarsono. (50\/edt\/jun)<\/p>",
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