U.S. supports RI integrity, warns of rights violations<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The United States government maintained on
\nThursday its opposition to separatism such as that in Aceh, but
\nwarned the Indonesian government to be \"conscious of the local
\npeople's human rights.\"<\/p>\n
\"Of course we support Indonesia's territorial integrity and
\noppose separatism. But we hope that Indonesia will support us,
\ntoo (in respect of ExxonMobil),\" U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia
\nRobert S. Gelbard told The Jakarta Post after signing an
\nagreement for a school milk project at the Ministry of National
\nEducation here.<\/p>\n
\"And we believe that the (Indonesian) government needs to be
\nvery conscious of the people's human rights. But again, we oppose
\nseparatism ... we've made that very clear to the GAM (Free Aceh
\nMovement) and the GAM has no support internationally. Zero
\n(support),\" Gelbard said.<\/p>\n
\"ExxonMobil unfortunately have had to close down temporarily
\nbecause of the security conditions. They were being bombed, their
\nairplanes were being attacked. One of their planes got hit with
\nbullets while it was in the air, and there have been lots of
\nmortar attacks so that the lives of the people have been put in
\nserious danger.<\/p>\n
\"It is not accurate to say that this military offensive
\nstarted because of ExxonMobil. I think this military offensive
\nwas already underway, already planned,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Gelbard added that ExxonMobil obviously wanted to complete
\ntheir contract of work, but at the same time they had to
\nsafeguard their employees' lives.<\/p>\n
He said it was very important for the government in Jakarta to
\nlisten to the aspirations of the people in Aceh.<\/p>\n
On the planned limited military operation in Aceh, Gelbard
\nsaid \"that is entirely for the Indonesian government to decide.\"<\/p>\n
\"What I support is an approach that embraces the people. And
\nthat shows the people why the Indonesian government cares about
\nthem,\" he said.<\/p>\n
This included matters involving autonomy, economic
\ndevelopment, justice and revenue sharing, all of which should be
\naccelerated by the government, Gelbard said.<\/p>\n
\"I think, of course, there is hope for the settlement of the
\nAceh matter and we think we have some ideas on how it could be
\ndone. We have some aid programs we would love to be able to
\nfunction in Aceh, but unfortunately some parts of the government
\nhave been blocking them ... BAKIN (The State Intelligence
\nCoordinating Agency) did that,\" Gelbard added.<\/p>\n
Separately, the chief of the Bukit Barisan Military Command
\noverseeing Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra and Riau provinces,
\nMaj. Gen. I.G. Purnawa, said on Tuesday that the Indonesian
\nMilitary (TNI) would dispatch its troops to the most critical
\nareas in Aceh: North Aceh, East Aceh and Pidie.<\/p>\n
\"We must try as hard as we can to protect the Acehnese and
\nhelp them develop their environment. We will not compromise with
\nGAM if they disturb our civic mission,\" Purnawa told reporters
\nafter attending a coordinating meeting on the TNI's villages
\nprogram at the Ministry of Home Affairs and Regional Autonomy.<\/p>\n
Separately, Air Force chief Marshall Hanafie Asnan said the
\nlimited military operation in Aceh would involve all branches of
\nthe TNI: the Army, the Navy and the Air Force.<\/p>\n
\"I will assign my combat troops if the TNI so requests. We may
\nalso institute an air superiority strategy if GAM develops an air
\ncapability,\" he said after attending a meeting with the House of
\nRepresentatives Commission I for defense, foreign and political
\naffairs.<\/p>\n
In Aceh, a headless body, which was later identified as that
\nof Sulay M. Nur, 40, was removed from a ravine in Layen village,
\nsome 34 kilometers away from the capital of Banda Aceh on
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
Suspected armed rebel gangs also wounded a policeman in
\nrestive Pidie regency and another in Banda Aceh.<\/p>\n
An alleged GAM member, M. Ramli Saleh, died after allegedly
\nresisting police arrest, Pidie Police chief Adj. Snr. Comr. Heru
\nBudi Ersanto said on Thursday. (edt\/02\/51)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/us-supports-ri-integrity-warns-of-rights-violations-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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