Autonomy best solution for Aceh: Susilo

Autonomy best solution for Aceh: Susilo

Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono told the Acehnese on Friday that
special autonomy was the best way to resolve the Aceh conflict,
signaling that there would be no policy changes in dealing with
the secessionist movement there.

"I am sure the implementation of the special autonomy law is
the only way to end the conflict in Aceh. Based upon autonomy, we
can join hands with the rebels to develop the province," Susilo
said during a dialog with some 400 youths, religious leaders and
non-governmental organization activists in Banda Aceh.

Susilo made a five-hour visit to Aceh on Friday, one week
after he extended for six months the state of civil emergency in
the province, where the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) has been
fighting for independence since 1976. More than 10,000 people,
mostly civilians, have been killed since then.

The visit was tightly guarded by some 3,000 military and
police personnel deployed in the provincial capital of Banda
Aceh.

The police also closed all roads leading to the Aceh
gubernatorial offices, where the dialog was held, causing traffic
congestion for hours in some areas.

Many had hoped that Susilo, who has promised to resolve the
Aceh question justly and honestly, would offer fresh solutions to
the decades-long rebellion, which prompted the government to put
the province under martial law on May 19, 2003 before reducing
this to a state of civil emergency one year later.

Under the special autonomy arrangements introduced on Jan. 1,
2001, Aceh is basically free to run its own affairs except in the
fields of defense, fiscal, foreign and religious affairs.

GAM, however, has rejected the arrangement, saying that they
want full independence.

Susilo also offered an amnesty to insurgents willing to give
up their arms.

"I will talk to the House of Representatives about the
granting of an amnesty to rebels who decide to quit the
movement," Susilo said.

Military officials said earlier that there were still between
2,500 and 3,000 rebels waging an independence war in Aceh, down
from around 5,000 before the imposition of martial law in May
2003.

During the visit, his first since becoming president on Oct.
20, Susilo was accompanied by Coordinating Minister for
Political, Legal and Security Affairs Widodo A.S., Coordinating
Minister for the Economy Aburizal Bakrie, Minister of Home
Affairs M. Ma'ruf, Minister of Justice and Human Rights Hamid
Awaluddin, State Minister for Social Welfare Bachtiar Chamsyah,
military chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto and police chief Gen.
Da'i Bachtiar.

After holding the dialog, President Susilo performed Friday
prayers at the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque before flying back to
Jakarta.

i-box

TNI, police clash one day before Susilo's visit

One day before President Susilo's visit to Aceh, a clash broke
out between troopers from the police's Mobile Brigade (Brimob)
and military personnel at Idi Rayuek village, East Aceh regency,
on Thursday.

The incident, the first since the start of the massive
military and police build-up in May 2003, killed one police
officer and seriously injured two others.

There were no explanations forthcoming from either the police
or the military as to the cause of the clash. Gen. Endriartono
said on Friday that the troops were emotionally exhausted as they
had been in Aceh for more than six months.

"The case will be handled by the local commanders of the two
units as this is simply a brawl between colleagues," he said.