TNI asks for Rp 1.23t for Aceh<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Military (TNI) has asked for Rp 1.23 trillion
\n(US$143 million) to finance a six-month operation in Aceh.<\/p>\n
"It will be used to finance the needs of soldiers, maintenance
\nof military equipment and other facilities," TNI chief Gen.
\nEndriartono Sutarto told House of Representative's Commission I
\noverseeing defense affairs on Monday.<\/p>\n
The funds excluded the TNI's state budget allocation of Rp
\n11.53 trillion for 2003 for routine spending and Rp 2.41 trillion
\nfor development expenses.<\/p>\n
As of May, the TNI has used 39.6 percent of the budget set for
\nroutine expenses and 60.6 percent of the development budget.<\/p>\n
The hearing was expected to focus on budget affairs but dozens
\nof legislators inquired about the TNI's preparations for the
\noperation in Aceh after the apparent collapse of a peace deal
\nbetween the government and Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatists.<\/p>\n
TNI expects to deploy between 40,000 and 50,000 troops to the
\nnatural resource-rich province to quell the guerrilla fighters,
\nwhose number is estimated at 5,000.<\/p>\n
Endriartono said the TNI was in a need of support from all
\nparts of the nation, including humanitarian activists, to "win
\nthe hearts and the minds of the Acehnese people".<\/p>\n
If the government failed to win the trust of the people of
\nAceh, the TNI would be unable to minimize civilian fatalities
\nduring the operation.<\/p>\n
He said soldiers would not ask Acehnese civilians to leave
\ntheir villages but would force GAM members to do so.<\/p>\n
However, he admitted it would be difficult for the security
\ntroops to differentiate between rebels and civilians.<\/p>\n
GAM has been waging a guerrilla war for independence since
\n1976. More than 10,000 people, mainly civilians, have been
\nkilled.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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