Civil emergency still 'adequate' for Maluku

JAKARTA (JP): Despite mounting pressure to raise the alert status in the riot-torn Maluku islands to a military emergency, a senior Cabinet member said on Wednesday that the civilian emergency currently imposed on the islands was still "adequate".

"I think we will stick to the civil emergency. It is adequate at the moment," Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono said after attending a Cabinet meeting.

"We want to adopt (a policy) that is sustainable in terms of policy making and restores public peace and order as soon as possible with the minimum risk of human rights violations," he added.

When asked why the government had declared the state of civil emergency in Maluku two days ago when the violence first flared up last week, Juwono said: "Partly because the public is still worried about the use of emergency measures, something that is a legacy that we have from the past.

"The public demands that we act. Now we act, then some people say why do you act too late ... so we can't win" said Juwono.

He called on the public to "give more time" to the government and not to "expect immediate results" from the imposition of a civil emergency.

Earlier in the day, human rights affairs minister Hasballah M. Saad said that the state of civil emergency in Maluku could be upgraded to martial law if the security situation there continued to deteriorate.

"There is still a possibility (of the imposition of martial law) if the situation gets out of control," Hasballah said before attending the Cabinet meeting.

"But I am still trying, if possible, for using just a civil emergency," Hasballah said.

Martial law, he said, would "depend on the necessary conditions" to justify a decision to allow the military to take full control in both provinces, where fighting between Muslims and Christians has been raging for 18 months.

"For now, we are not pushing for the imposition of a military emergency ... we have imposed a civil emergency to minimize (the violence)," the minister said.

After Jakarta imposed a state of civil emergency on Monday, the authorities introduced a nighttime curfew, ordered the surrender of all weapons held by civilians and banned unauthorized gatherings of 10 or more people.

Separately, former justice minister Muladi said he saw no necessity to impose martial law in the near future because it would take time to test the state of civil emergency.

He added the imposition of civil emergency should allow informal leaders to take part in halting the continuing clashes.

"There should be systematic measures in a state of civil emergency that include informal leaders in the decision making process at the time," Muladi said on Wednesday.

Opposition to martial law in Maluku also came from political observer and rector of the Gadjah Mada University Ichlasul Amal.

"The civil emergency state has enough grounds for stern action to be taken. As long as it is done effectively, I believe the authorities can restore law and order in the area.

"The security forces are facing a difficult task quelling the rioting. Firm action to expel Laskar Jihad fighters and several nongovernmental organizations in the islands that have been provoking people must be taken," Ichlasul said, accusing the Laskar Jihad of direct involvement in the conflict.

In Boyolali town, Central Java, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) chairman Hasyim Muzadi said he supported the civil emergency in Maluku and was waiting for the policy to firmly take effect.

"As for our readiness to send Banser members to the islands, I will not do that until there is an official request. In addition, the purpose of their deployment must be clear," he said.

In Surabaya, Brawijaya Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sudi Silalahi revealed a plan to pull out in July around 3,000 of his personnel who have been deployed in Maluku since December.

"They will be replaced by a fresh batch from East Java's 527nd Lumajang Batallion. The troops going home are from 512nd Cavalry and 521st Zipur Battalion," Sudi said, adding that tight coordination would secure the sea route from East Java to Maluku.

Meanwhile, Juwono revealed that the Indonesian Police would effectively be put under direct supervision of the President as of January 1, 2001.

He also said that Minister of Law and Legislation Yusril Ihza Mahendra was still preparing a law to regulate the complete separation of the police from the defense ministry.

The police force is currently under the supervision of the defense ministry after officially separating from the armed forces (ABRI) in April last year. ABRI has since been renamed the Indonesian Military (TNI). (byg)/44/swa/nur/edt)