RI attacks donors over Aceh War<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta\/Lhokseumawe<\/p>\n
Indonesia is bristling over what it sees as meddling remarks by
\nthe European Union, Japan and the United States over the
\ngovernment's decision to extend martial law in Nanggroe Aceh
\nDarussalam. The three parties' joint statement had also called on
\ntransparency in the implementation of martial law.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday stated that their
\nstatement was \"regrettable and leads to interference of domestic
\naffairs for a number of reasons.\"<\/p>\n
The above three parties had facilitated the government's talks
\nwith the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in Tokyo, in a last ditch
\nattempt to save the agreement signed by the two parties in Geneva
\nin December 2002, with the mediation of the Henry Dunant Centre.<\/p>\n
Among the above mentioned reasons was, \"The existence of the
\nTokyo conference co-chair is no longer there following the break
\ndown of the peace talks in May 2003. Therefore the Indonesian
\ngovernment cannot accept efforts to institutionalize something
\nthat in fact does not exist.\"<\/p>\n
The EU, the U.S. and Japan had also initiated a post-war
\nconstruction fund for Aceh.<\/p>\n
Among other reasons for rejecting their remarks, the Ministry
\nunder Hassan Wirayuda said that their joint statement displayed
\npoor understanding of the \"integrated operation\" in which the
\nmilitary operation was only one part of the policy for Aceh,
\napart from the humanitarian operation, law enforcement,
\nempowerment of the local administration, and the newly added
\neconomic recovery program.<\/p>\n
The decision to extend martial law from Nov. 19, the Ministry
\nsaid, was based on thorough considerations, given the
\ngovernment's efforts in \"restoring and preserving state
\nsovereignty ... and restoring a sense of security\" mainly among
\nthe local population.<\/p>\n
The EU, Japan and the U.S. issued the joint statement
\nThursday, following Jakarta's decision to extend martial law in
\nAceh for the next six months. They had said that martial law
\nshould be conducted with minimum human suffering and that Jakarta
\nshould open international access to the operation of humanitarian
\naffairs in the province. The martial law authority has denied
\naccess to humanitarian organizations.<\/p>\n
Dismissing the need for foreign parties, the Ministry stressed
\nthat the government \"has enough sources and enough self
\nconfidence to overcome the humanitarian situation in Aceh ...\".<\/p>\n
Jakarta decided to impose martial law since May 19 this year,
\nafter the peace talks between the government and GAM broke down.<\/p>\n
The government said it decided to extend martial law, saying
\nGAM forces remain significant and that the security situation
\nshould be maintained ahead of the 2004 election.<\/p>\n
While groups of Acehnese have expressed support for the
\nextension of martial law, other Acehnese have said they expected
\nthe government to focus more on the people, who have lost their
\nrelatives in the ongoing war.<\/p>\n
Cut Ade Mutia, 30, a villager from Muara Dua in Lhokseumawe
\nsaid she had hoped Jakarta would display more attention to the
\nconditions of widows and orphans resulting from the military
\noperation.<\/p>\n
\"Not all of their husbands and relatives who died were GAM
\nmembers ... The government should focus on providing a normal
\nlife for (surviving relatives),\" Mutia said.<\/p>\n
However several other villagers from Sawang subdistrict have
\nsaid they hoped the military operations could stop mysterious
\nkillings and intimidation against civilians, allegedly conducted
\nby GAM rebels.<\/p>\n
Mawardi Nur, 39, of Sawang, said that during the 1999 to 2002,
\nGAM \"committed terror\" against the people.<\/p>\n
Sawang, known as a GAM stronghold, is one of several
\nsubdistricts in Aceh headed by a military officer. The
\nappointment of military officers as subdistrict heads was part of
\nmeasures taken by the martial law authority given that many
\nsubdistrict heads had fled their jobs.<\/p>\n
Human rights campaigner Munir of the Indonesia Human Rights
\nMonitor (Impartial) has criticized legislators and civilian
\npoliticians for their failure to control the military in solving
\nthe Aceh issue.<\/p>\n
Speaker of the House of Representatives Akbar Tandjung said
\nthat martial law in Aceh should end before the general elections
\nscheduled for April 5 next year.<\/p>\n
\"The general elections must become an important factor to
\ndetermine the (period of the) martial law,\" he said on Friday.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-attacks-donors-over-aceh-war-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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