Aceh students, residents vandalize national flags

Aceh students, residents vandalize national flags

JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of students and residents on Thursday
vandalized national flags in Lohksukon, North Aceh, following
the removal of banners demanding a referendum on the troubled
province's future.

A number of flags installed at government offices were set on
fire, a local correspondent said. The action involving secondary
students led to hours of congestion but no one was arrested.

University students were observed negotiating with military
personnel on Thursday afternoon, asking that banners on the
referendum be left alone.

Local military commander First Lt. Chairul Nofa agreed on the
condition that students stopped tearing down the red-and-white
national flags. Officers said referendum banners were allowed as
long as they did not bear the "Free Aceh Movement" signs.

Crowds also resorted to scrawling graffiti including
"referendum" while police looked on.

Antara quoted Governor Syamsuddin Mahmud as saying that the
Acehnese should participate in the June elections as a step to
helping solve problems in the province.

"A boycott is against the spirit of reform ...," Syamsuddin
said Thursday in response to demands for a referendum and calls
to boycott the poll.

He said calls for the referendum to determine whether Acehnese
wanted an independent state were based on arguments that it was
the only way to solve the area's political and social crisis left
by a decade-long military operation.

"They have threatened to boycott the election if the
government does not organize a referendum," Syamsuddin said.

Calls for a referendum increased after Syamsuddin stated that
a federal system may be the best way to maintain Indonesia's
unity. In response, students said a referendum would be better.

Although Syamsuddin said the calls should be respected, he
said such aspirations should be channeled through representatives
in the House of Representatives. His advice was similar to that
of President B.J. Habibie who met with Acehnese last month.

Thirty-seven of the country's 48 parties will be on the ballot
in polls in Aceh, the agency reported.

On Tuesday presidential advisor Usman Hasan told Habibie that
referendum calls were caused by unsettled grievances mainly
related to impacts of military operations from 1989 to 1998,
which were aimed at suppressing the Free Aceh Movement.

He reminded the government to realize Habibie's promises made
in last month's dialog in the provincial capital of Banda Aceh,
including bringing officers accused of atrocities against
civilians to trial.

Flags of the movement are now frequently seen in Aceh.

On Wednesday, the Aceh chapter of the Islamic People's Party
(PUI) stated suggestions to open a military command in the
province would lead to a repetition of military operations.

Antara quoted Miswar Sulaiman as saying in a press release
that suggestions of the provincial administration that a military
command be opened in Aceh should be delayed given continued
public trauma over past military operations.

Sporadic violence which has killed several military members
and civilians after the operations were ended last year, led the
local legislature to suggest that a military command should be
re-opened in Aceh.

The command was incorporated into the Bukit Barisan Military
Command overseeing Sumatra when the military operations status,
was lifted. The Armed Forces plans to establish a military
command in Aceh and also in Ambon, the site of recent carnage
where scores have died in religious conflict.

"Our party is of the view that if the military command (in
Aceh) is set up, we would see more military operations," Miswar
said. Additional operations were launched in January following
the abduction of soldiers which were blamed on the pro-
independence rebels.

In separate incidents a number of civilians who were
considered former military informants have also been killed by
civilians, according to the military.

Statements disagreeing with a re-opening of the military
command in Aceh was also expressed in last month's meeting
between Acehnese and the President.

Miswar added, "If repressive attitudes (of the military) are
maintained, in which all Acehnese are considered enemies to be
eliminated, do not hope that Acehnese will give the military a
friendly welcome."

Miswar said demands of Aceh students for a referendum and
calls to boycott the poll should not be responded with violence.

On Wednesday students in Medan grouped in the Students Front
for Democracy and the Council for North Sumatra Workers
demonstrated at the local legislature and the Bukit Barisan
military command in Medan.

Among others students urged the boycott of the poll, an end to
the military's dual function justifying its role in social and
political affairs, and a trial of former president Soeharto.

Workers also demanded an end to the military's dual role apart
from demanding lower prices and a 100 percent wage hike. (anr/21)