Attempted murder of Aceh governor may hamper talks

The Jakarta Post, Medan/Banda Aceh

The attempted assassination of Aceh's governor by unidentified gunmen on Thursday is likely to encourage the government to take a tougher line against separatists in the war-torn province and may have derailed efforts to seek a peaceful solution.

National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said on Friday he would strengthen the police presence in Aceh and vowed to find the ambushers, who he said were members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).

The government should review its peace talks with GAM, particularly after the ambush which seriously injured North Aceh Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Sunardi, he said.

"It is difficult for us to accept the idea of dialog if GAM continues with its military campaign," he told reporters after visiting Sunardi in the Gleneagles Hospital in Medan, North Sumatra.

Sunardi, traveling in a convoy with Governor Abdullah Puteh, underwent surgery on Friday to remove a bullet from his back.

He was listed as being in a stable condition on Friday, and could speak slowly.

The ambush also injured Second Brig. Junaidi who was in the same car with Sunardi.

The convoy was ambushed on its way home after attending the launch of a peace promotion program, locally called Gema Assalam, in Makmur village, Bireun district.

GAM have still not commented on the attack.

Acehnese ulema Tengku Imam Suja', Ar-Raniry Islamic State University rector Rusjdi Ali Muhammad and activist Rufriadi, who all condemned the ambush, said they hoped the government would not stop seeking a peaceful solution because of the attack.

Imam Suja', head of the Aceh branch of the Muhammadiyah, was quoted by Antara as saying that a mechanism to stop the cruelty must be discussed in planned peace talks between the government and GAM, slated to be held in Geneva this month.

Rusjdi concurred, saying that although the incident might hamper talks, he hoped the "government would not carelessly take a stand that would cause the people to suffer losses."

Rufriadi of the Aceh Legal Aid Institute, called on the government not to use the incident as a pretext to leave the peace talks.

"Once more, we hope both the military and the police as well as GAM can exercise self-restraint," he said.