Bill on special autonomy for Aceh proposed

Bill on special autonomy for Aceh proposed

JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives (DPR) officially
proposed a draft bill on Monday for the Special Autonomy of
Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, recommending the implementation of
Syariah or Islamic Law for Muslims in the province, and a bigger
proportion in revenue sharing between the central government and
the restive province.

The draft states that the provincial court which would be
named Mahkamah Syariah, would deal with all legal matters based
on Islamic Law for Muslim citizens and Indonesian criminal law
for non-Muslim citizens.

The implementation of Islamic law would be further determined
by the local provincial legislature in the form of Qanun, which
in other provinces is called city bylaw.

"The Qanun will also decide what punishment would be given to
those (Muslims) charged with crimes," chairman of the bill
special committee Ferry Mursyidan Baldan said.

The draft bill also proposes that the province receive 80
percent of the total revenue from the province's income from the
agricultural and fishery sector, and 85 percent of the total
profit gained from oil and gas businesses.

"After a 10-year period, the central government would receive
at least a 50 percent share in revenue," the proposed bill
states.

However, the House did not suggest a broader authority for the
people of Aceh through the highest body which oversees Acehnese
customs or Wali Nanggroe, rather, it would act as a symbolic
institution that would have no practical power in the government.

"The main point of the proposed bill is not to provide
extraordinary authority to the Acehnese, such as establishing an
independent country within Indonesia," Ferry said.

The bill comprising 14 chapters and 30 articles suggests that
Aceh (province) be changed into Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam
(province), as requested by the majority of the Aceh people.

The proposed bill also suggests that Wali Nanggroe be a
nonstructural organization in the administration and a symbol of
the preservation of (Acehnese) culture and tradition rather than
be involved in any political decision making.

According to the bill, the province is allowed to arrange
direct gubernatorial elections, whenever it is ready. But if the
province is not ready, gubernatorial elections should be held by
local provincial legislators, and the elected governor will, like
other governors in other provinces, be sworn in by the
(Indonesian) minister of home affairs and regional autonomy.

The province is allowed to chose its own provincial symbol and
flag, but the flag must be hoisted alongside the national
red-and-white flag.

The draft further states that the Aceh Police chief, who will
be appointed by the National Police chief with the approval of
the Aceh governor, is accountable to the governor of Aceh
regarding security matters, including law and order.

32 killed

Meanwhile, it was reported on Monday that as many as 27 dead
bodies were found on Sunday in Central Aceh.

An Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) worker Rahmad Syah said that
most of the bodies, with gunshot and stab wounds, were found in
various villages in the district of Bandar, some 30 kilometers
from Takengon, the capital of Central Aceh regency.

"The bodies, which were unable to be identified due to the
wounds, were buried in Pondok Baru on Sunday," Rahmad told The
Jakarta Post by phone from Takengon on Monday.

Rahmad estimated that the people were killed about two days
before their bodies were discovered.

In a related development, Wien Rimba Raya, GAM spokesman in
Central Aceh said in a telephone interview on Monday that all the
corpses in Bandar were of civilians, who were killed when the
Indonesian Military conducted a sweeping operation in the
villages on Friday.

Wien also accused the military of having torched a resident's
house in Timang Gajah on Saturday, killing seven civilians inside
the house.

Firdaus denied the accusations on Sunday, saying that it (the
accusation) was just GAM propaganda and that all 20 people killed
in Timang Gajah were GAM members.

However, chief of Aceh military operations Brig. Gen. Zamroni
said on Sunday that the overall situation in Aceh was improving.

"The number of attacks on the (Indonesian) military and police
stations has been decreasing. Interprovincial transportation from
Banda Aceh to Medan has returned to normal, thanks to the
concerted efforts of the military to maintain security."
(dja/50/sur)