Team says Habibie must give concrete solution on Aceh<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie is expected to provide
\nclear outcomes for Aceh when he visits the province on March 26,
\nan advisor said on Friday.<\/p>\n
Usman Hasan, chairman of the 12-strong advisory team for Aceh
\naffairs, said he hoped the President would announce expeditious
\nmeasures for the troubled province.<\/p>\n
Hasan proposed wide ranging autonomy, restoration of human
\nrights conditions and rehabilitation and compensation for victims
\nof the 1989-1998 military operation in the oil-rich province.<\/p>\n
\"He must bring something during his visit,\" Usman said, after
\nmeeting Habibie at Merdeka Palace. Also attending were the 11
\nteam members including chairman of the Indonesian Council of
\nUlemas Ali Yafie, business tycoon Ibrahim Risyad and former
\nJakarta governor Surjadi Soedirja.<\/p>\n
Habibie was accompanied by Minister of Defense and
\nSecurity\/Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto and Minister of Home
\nAffairs Syarwan Hamid.<\/p>\n
The team was set up on March 5 in a bid to accommodate growing
\ncalls for separatism and restlessness in the province.<\/p>\n
In the one-day visit, Habibie will say his Friday prayer at
\nthe historic Baiturrahman Mosque with Aceh leaders and locals.<\/p>\n
\"We suggested the President display the government's
\nintentions during his first visit to Aceh,\" said Usman, a former
\nGolkar executive and ambassador to Mexico.<\/p>\n
The team told Habibie Aceh was the country's fourth poorest
\nprovince after Irian Jaya, Maluku and East Timor, despite
\ncontributing massive revenue from its abundant oil and gas
\nresources to the central government.<\/p>\n
\"The Aceh problem is very complicated, politically and
\neconomically, because 40.3 percent of its villages are
\ncategorized as poorly developed areas,\" said Usman.<\/p>\n
Aceh comprises 10 regencies, two mayoralties, 5,165 villages
\nand a population of about four million people. According to 1996
\nstatistics, its gross domestic product for 1996 was Rp 3.76
\nmillion (US$440), much of it contributed by the oil and gas
\nsector.<\/p>\n
Between 1989 and 1998, military operations to crack down on
\nalleged separatist movements, claimed at least 1,021 lives, while
\n864 people are missing and 1,376 women became widows.<\/p>\n
Usman said it would be wise if Habibie announced a plan to
\nprovide proper burials to victims of the violence, provide widows
\nwith financial compensation and orphans with scholarships.<\/p>\n
The team advised Habibie to clarify Aceh's status as a special
\nprovince, an entitlement which allows autonomy in the affairs of
\nreligion, custom and culture and education.<\/p>\n
\"It is our expectation, but you must check with him\", Usman
\nsaid, referring to Habibie's readiness to enact changes in the
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
Usman, a native Acehnese, said demands for independence were
\nan expression of frustration and anger over central government
\nnegligence, despite the province's extensive financial
\ncontribution from the oil and gas sectors. (prb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/team-says-habibie-must-give-concrete-solution-on-aceh-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}