Aceh's fate to be decided Thursday

Abdul Khalik and Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta

The government is expected to make a decision on the status of troubled Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam during a cabinet meeting on Thursday, an official says.

Interim coordinating minister for political and security affairs Lt. Gen. (ret) Hari Sabarno said that in a ministerial meeting on Wednesday it had been recommended that martial law status be lowered to a state of civil emergency or state of civil order.

"If we were to say that the condition there had improved, but not lift the martial law status, it would be confusing," he said after a meeting at his office on Wednesday.

He also said that some 50 to 60 percent of members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) had been incapacitated.

The meeting was attended by National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar, Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra, Minister of Social Affairs Bachtiar Chamsyah, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti and Minister of Settlement and Regional Infrastructure Soenarno.

Although the government is considering maintaining martial law in several GAM strongholds, the decision to lower the status would have positive political consequences, particularly in the international community, Hari said.

Hari said that some foreign countries respected Indonesia for the implementation of martial law in Aceh. "They would respond positively if (we) lowered the status. Perhaps, (in the form of) foreign investment or support," he added.

However, Hari said, the government would continue the integrated operation in the province despite the expected lower status.

"The Indonesian Military (TNI) and police will stay there because it is demanded by the people," he said.

Hari also said the government would consider recommendations by the House of Representatives over the conflict in Aceh.

The martial law status was imposed on troubled Aceh on May 19 for a six-month period and was extended for another six months on Nov. 19.

Earlier, the House recommended the status be lowered to a state of civil emergency.

The imposition of martial law on Aceh has met widespread criticism from inside and outside the country, as it gives the military full authority to manage the integrated operations, under which around 40,000 military and police personnel have been deployed to hunt down some five thousand suspected GAM rebels.

Under a civil emergency status, civilian leaders would be assisted by military leaders to oversee the province. A civil order status, on the other hand, would imply that the area was safe, with security affairs controlled by the police.

Meanwhile, Attorney General MA Rachman told the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission II on Wednesday that corruption had been on the rise in Aceh since the imposition of martial law.

He also confirmed that his office was currently probing alleged corruption in 26 out of 46 projects conducted in Nangroe Aceh Darussalam during 2003 and 2004 and worth around Rp 335 billion.

"Prosecutors are now investigating alleged corruption committed by the NAD administration, including its governor, in 26 projects," said Rachman, referring to Governor Abdullah Puteh.

He said, he had instructed prosecutors to cooperate with martial law administrators so that the inquiry would be conducted efficiently.

Meanwhile, London-based Amnesty International called on the Indonesian government on Wednesday to end martial law in Aceh and to launch an independent investigation into the "dramatic" increase in human rights violations in the war-torn province, dpa news agency reported.