Australian ambassador visits Aceh

Australian ambassador visits Aceh

BANDA ACEH, Aceh: Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Richard
Smith arrived here on Monday for a two-day visit.

Immediately after his arrival in Banda Aceh, he was whisked to
the official residence of Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh on Jl.
Sultan Mughayatsyah, where they held a closed-door meeting for
more than one hour.

There was no official announcement on the topics discussed in
the meeting, but according to sources, Smith inquired about the
ongoing conflict in war-torn Aceh.

Before meeting with Puteh, Smith met with Aceh Provincial
Council Chairman Muhammad Yus, who informed him that the security
situation in Aceh was improving.

Smith also reportedly met with editors of Serambi Indonesia
daily, the largest daily in Aceh, on Monday, in order to learn
more about Aceh's actual security and political situation.

Aceh administration public relations chief Pungi Arianto said
Smith would meet with the Iskandar Muda military commander Brig.
Gen. Djali Yusuf and head of the Syiah Kuala University on
Tuesday before returning to Jakarta. -- JP