Acehnese express disbelief over state of emergency plan

Acehnese express disbelief over state of emergency plan

The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh/Jakarta

Acehnese expressed disbelief on Friday over the government's
insistence on imposing a state of emergency in the restive
province, stressing that all social layers in Aceh had expressed
their rejection to any state of emergency.

Aceh administration spokesman Husni Bahri told The Jakarta
Post on Friday that Acehnese people were still dealing with the
traumas of the 1989-1998 military operations, and any state of
emergency now would reopen the wounds.

"It is completely wrong to think that opposition (to a state
of emergency) does not reflect the aspiration of Acehnese
people," said Husni, referring to Coordinating Minister for
Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's
statement on Thursday that the Aceh councillors and Governor
Abdullah Puteh did not represent the Acehnese people as a whole.

Chairman of the Aceh Ulemas Council Tengku Imam Suja' voiced a
similar opinion on Friday.

"Imposing a state of emergency in Aceh is against the wishes
of the Acehnese people," said Imam Suja', who is also chairman of
Muhammadiyah Aceh branch.

Susilo, who just returned from a five-day visit to Aceh to
assess whether or not the situation there warrants a state of
emergency, said Thursday that the government would pursue its
plan to impose a state of emergency in Aceh.

He also claimed that the near-unanimous rejection by the
Acehnese legislative representatives and Governor Puteh did not
represent the Acehnese people who had been urging the government
to deal firmly with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).

Imam Suja' said Minister Susilo had heard it for himself that
Acehnese ulemas, the local administration and other social
elements flatly rejected a stronger military approach in Aceh.

"What Acehnese people want is a dialog between the government
and GAM to be pursued," Imam Suja' told the Post.

Aceh councillor Muhammad Nasir Djamil warned Susilo on Friday
against ignoring the aspirations of Acehnese people which was
clearly conveyed to him last week.

"Jakarta should not disregard those voices as it was conveyed
directly to the minister," Muhammad said.

"Should Jakarta insist on imposing a state of emergency in
Aceh, it will only deepen the scars in the hearts of Acehnese
people," he said.

Despite the peace calls, Iskandar Muda (Aceh) Military
Commander Maj. Gen. Djali Yusuf said in Jakarta on Friday that
the Indonesian Military (TNI) would intensify its military
operations in the province.

"With or without a decision on a state of emergency in Aceh,
we, the TNI, will continue with our military approach there. I
guess it's the only way to protect civilians because the rebels
threaten security," Djali told reporters after holding a meeting
with Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu at Army
Headquarters.

According to Djali, the meeting also discussed the deployment
of an additional four battalions to the province.

He said reinforcements were needed in Aceh to overcome the
forces of GAM, which had been fighting for independence since the
1970s.

He predicted that GAM currently had 3,962 combat troops on the
ground, with 1,800 various weapons.

The government, on the other hand, has a reported total of
some 21,000 TNI troops and 12,000 police personnel.

"If GAM launched a conventional war, I believe that we could
crush them in one day," Djali said.

As the rebels conducted guerrilla warfare, TNI needed more
troops to track down and attack them, he said.

He said the additional 4,000 troops would mostly be deployed
in West Aceh regency, despite the hotbed of rebellion being in
East Aceh regency. Djali did not provide further explanation.

TNI chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto added that the Aceh
question needed an effective solution.

"Dialog is good, but if GAM continues to demand independence,
dialog is impossible...we have to settle the Aceh issue once and
for all," Sutarto said after meeting President Megawati
Soekarnoputri at the State Palace Friday.

The four-star general also proposed an amnesty for GAM members
who wanted to return to the Indonesian side.

"Once they (GAM) agree to accept the special regional
autonomy, then the government would arrange an amnesty for them,"
he added.

However, he said the president had yet to decide a new policy
on Aceh and TNI would only follow the instruction from the
government.