Bakin warns provincial governors of new violence
JAKARTA (JP): Lt. Gen. (ret.) Arie J. Kumaat, the chief of the State Intelligence Coordinating Board (Bakin), asked provincial governors to remain on alert for any new unrest in the country.
"At present, there are no signs that any new violence is about to explode, but governors should stay on alert for possible spillovers triggered by existing conflicts. We should learn from the recent violence in Maluku, North Maluku and Mataram," he said during a meeting on Tuesday.
He said local officials, especially governors, regents and subdistrict chiefs, should be skilled in managing potential areas of conflict, especially ethnic and religious ones.
He warned that Aceh, Riau and Irian Jaya face serious questions on their future while other provinces are prone to ethnic and religious conflicts.
"Therefore, local officials should enhance their coordination with the police and military to manage existing conflicts and to avoid new ones," he said.
Meanwhile, Aceh Governor Syamsuddin Machmud, who was at the meeting, said that despite the recent deaths of local military and police personnel, the overall situation in the province was under control.
"I have yet to receive the official report on the latest killings of local military and police officials. But so far, the situation is under control," he said.
He said the situation in Aceh had gradually improved following the government's action to carry out development programs in the province.
"The government's recent revival of Sabang as a free port and the government's plan to reoperate the railway bridging Aceh and North Sumatra are expected to win the Acehnese people's support for the government," he claimed.
He added that the provincial administration was still making preparations to implement the province's special autonomy at the provincial level.
Maluku governor Saleh Latuconsina said that the situation in Maluku and North Maluku had also progressively returned to normal after the imposition of strict security measures against all sides. (rms)