Trial of SIRA Chief to be held in Banda Aceh next week<\/p>\n
BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): The government has bowed to demands to
\ntry Muhammad Nazar, the chief of the Aceh Referendum Information
\nCenter (SIRA), in Banda Aceh.<\/p>\n
A local judge Farida Hanoum said on Tuesday the district court
\nhere was expected to try Nazar either on Wednesday or Thursday
\nnext week after the Idul Adha Islamic Day of Sacrifice.<\/p>\n
Farida said there is a possibility of sending judges from
\nMedan in the neighboring province of North Sumatra for the trial,
\nas she was the only available judge here.<\/p>\n
The new Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Baharuddin Lopa
\nissued a decree No. M.05.AT.01.10\/2001 stipulating the relocation
\nof Nazar's trial to Banda Aceh after the defendant failed to
\nappear in the opening session on Feb. 21 in Medan. Lopa's
\npredecessor Yusril Ihza Mahendra had ordered the trial be held in
\nMedan for security concerns.<\/p>\n
Nazar welcomed the government's gesture.<\/p>\n
\"I'm glad that my trial will be held in Aceh. I and my lawyers
\nappreciate the government for its move,\" Nazar said.<\/p>\n
Nazar is charged with showing hostile intentions\/treason
\nagainst the state, a crime which carries a maximum sentence of
\nseven years in jail, for organizing a mass congress to demand a
\nreferendum in Banda Aceh last November. He has been detained
\nsince Nov. 20 last year.<\/p>\n
Aceh governor Abdullah Puteh complained about the lack of
\njudges as a result of security problems plaguing his territory.<\/p>\n
\"Local judges are too afraid to perform their duties, while at
\nthe same time we cannot force the central government to send
\njudges here,\" Abdullah said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The lack of judges has left more than 90 percent of cases in
\nAceh unsettled.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, five women who stated they were raped by security
\nofficers in South Aceh early this month filed their case with
\nAceh's National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM).<\/p>\n
Separately, North Aceh Police Adj. Sr. Comr. Wanto Sumardi
\nsaid on Tuesday that police had identified three bodies recovered
\nin Lhokseumawe on Monday as residents of Bireun regency who had
\ngone missing, following a security sweeping in the area a few
\nhours earlier.<\/p>\n
In Jambi province, Antara reported that some 100 Sabhara riot
\npolice troops are undergoing jungle survival training before
\njoining the second phase of security operation code-named Cinta
\nMeunasah in Aceh.<\/p>\n
Jambi Police chief Brig. Gen. Zamris Anwar said the training
\nwas held at Dusun Tua forest in Muara Tebo regency, about 320
\nkilometers away from Jambi. He said the location resembles Aceh
\nin geographical terms.<\/p>\n
The troops are also trained to locate and quell armed groups,
\nZamris said.<\/p>\n
The North Aceh-based oil joint-venture ExxonMobil Oil
\nIndonesia (EMOI) denied on Tuesday accusations by GAM that the
\ncompany was providing a base for the Indonesian military.<\/p>\n
EMOI spokesperson Julia Tumengkol said it was the government
\nthat made the decision regarding the level of protection required
\nto adequately secure all strategic assets, including the
\nfacilities operated by the company.<\/p>\n
\"EMOI does not control or direct the activities of these
\nmilitary personnel,\" Julia said.<\/p>\n
The company also offered condolences to the family of 15-year-
\nold Sukirman, who died in a GAM attack on military troops posted
\nin the company's compound on Saturday. (edt\/50)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/trial-of-sira-chief-to-be-held-in-banda-aceh-next-week-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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