Civil emergency still 'adequate' for Maluku

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)