Aceh congress postponed by troop deployment
BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): A major congress to forge peace in Aceh scheduled to start next week has been delayed indefinitely following the massive deployment of security forces in recent weeks.
Organizers of the Aceh People's Congress (KRA), in announcing the delay, say the presence of so many police officers in Banda Aceh has unnerved the local people and the invited participants.
"Security in Banda Aceh and neighboring Aceh Besar regency is not getting any better. We have no choice but to postpone the congress," Abdullah Ali, deputy chief of organizing committee, said on Wednesday evening.
The organizers have not set a new date for the week-long congress, originally due to start on April 22.
"We're waiting for further developments because we have seen more violence recently," Abdullah said.
Banda Aceh, the provincial capital, and Aceh Besar have been rocked by a series of bombings and arson attacks in the past week.
Local people were reportedly also worried by the arrival of a fresh batch of security forces in the area.
On Thursday, 400 members of the police's elite Mobile Brigade disembarked from ships at Malahatyati Port east of Banda Aceh.
Two days earlier, 580 police officers landed at Kreueng Geukeuh Port in Lhokseumawe, the capital of North Aceh.
"We don't feel comfortable with so many troops around us," Abdullah said. "People are afraid that their presence will trigger more unrest because the chances of conflict with rebels has also increased."
Dozens of students marched to the Aceh Legislative Council building on Thursday and later to the Aceh Police Headquarters to demand that Jakarta withdraw all troops from the province.
State Minister of Human Rights Affairs Hasballah M. Saad confirmed in Jakarta on Thursday the delay. "God willing, the postponement will be only for two weeks. But it all depends on the security condition in Banda Aceh," he said.
He also confirmed the recent deployment of police officers, stressing that they were sent to secure the trial of military officers, accused of human rights abuses, scheduled to start in Banda Aceh on Monday.
Hasballah said the government played no role in organizing the congress. "It is only a coincidence that the dates for the joint tribunal and the congress were close," he said.
The minister also disclosed that the government and senior members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) were scheduled to open talks this week to find a solution to the Aceh problem.
"The meeting will take place somewhere in Europe," he said.
"Actually a series of talks took place earlier between government officials and GAM figures abroad. President Abdurrahman is very committed to solving the Aceh problem peacefully," he said, refusing to give details about the meeting.
President Abdurrahman Wahid has voiced support for the congress, although he has ruled out independence as an option for Aceh.
Abdurrahman has also vowed to protect any members of GAM who wish to attend the congress.
Meanwhile, unidentified gangmen fired at a trailer truck belonging to Exxon-Oil Inc. at Jl. Lem Pipa Km 24 in the industrial regency of North Aceh on Wednesday.
A staffer identified as Aswar Nahar was injured in the third attack on Exxon Oil facilities this week.
North Aceh Police chief Lt. Col. Syafei Aksal said the truck was ambushed even though it was escorted by members of the company security unit.
In West Aceh, an armed gang attacked a police outpost in Krueng Sabee on Wednesday. A day earlier, a women was killed when gunmen tossed a grenade at a police truck, missed the truck and hit a kiosk at Padang Kling of Teunom district, Lt. Col. Satrya Hari Prasetya of West Aceh Police said. (50/51/edt)