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.