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.
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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.