Aceh emergency extended for 6 months
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has extended the civil state of emergency in Aceh for up to six months after securing approval from the House of Representatives (DPR).
Speaking after a four-hour meeting with House leaders, including faction and commission heads, Susilo said the extension was necessary to encourage order in the province.
"To keep the momentum for peace, the current emergency status will be extended for six months at the most, with a monthly review for a possible change of status to one of civil order," Susilo said.
The current civil emergency, which ends on Nov. 18 at midnight, was imposed on May 18 following a year of martial law aimed at stamping out the secessionist Free Aceh Movement (GAM), which has been fighting for Aceh's independence from Indonesia since 1976.
Under the emergency, local authorities can freely censor the press and issue curfews and house searches at will.
While martial law in Aceh no longer exists, operations against GAM rebels in the province have continued unabated. Security officers now put the size of the surviving GAM force at about 2,500 guerrillas and estimate they have about 850 weapons. At the start of the military campaign last year TNI officers estimated GAM rebels numbered about 5,000.
Susilo said along with the extension, the government would take new measures to end conflict in Aceh and ensure the full implementation of special autonomy in the province.
"We will issue detailed information about how to end conflicts and improve the implementation of special autonomy. We will also maintain the comprehensive operations in the province," Susilo said.
During martial law, the government introduced what it called an "integrated operation", which included laws supposed to empower regional administrations, enforce existing laws, and curb military excesses.
Activists, however, have called the laws window dressing and said they were meaningless when the military remained in control in many areas and civilians were often in a state of siege.
"These operations will remain, but we will find measures to improve and speed up the program in line with special autonomy," Susilo said.
House Speaker Agung Laksono said the House understood the need to extend the civil emergency but stressed there should be a thorough evaluation each month so as to end the status as soon as possible.
Susilo is expected to issue the presidential decree on Thursday (today) before flying to Santiago, Chile, to attend the APEC Summit.
Meanwhile, United Development Party (PPP) faction leader Endin Soefihara said there were several questions raised by House members during the consultation, including the status of the ongoing investigation of Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh in connection with corruption charges.
"We asked the government inform us of the legal status of the governor and about the process of the investigation. We also questioned the reason for the extension (of the emergency) and the transparency measures regarding the funds allocated for the operation," Endin said after the meeting.
However, he underlined that the House was not in the position to approve or reject the decision extending the emergency.
When asked about the possibility of the government talking with GAM leaders, Endin said while no specifics were discussed at the meeting, House members agreed that no talks should include foreign parties.
"Any peace dialog should be conducted without intervention or any facilitation by foreign agencies -- it should be directly between the government and the separatist movement," he said.
Former president Megawati Soekarnoputri first imposed the martial law following the failure of peace talks between the government and GAM leaders in Sweden.