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