Concerns raised about top-level Army meeting in Aceh

Nani Farida and Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post,Lhokseumawe/Jakarta

Army chief of staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu urged soldiers to be ready to maintain security in some conflict-torn areas, secure next year's election and guard against possible terrorism threats despite the military's funding shortfall.

"The limited budget must not weaken our vigor to carry out our duties," Ryamizard said at a meeting of the Army's top brass in Lhokseumawe, Aceh.

In Jakarta, a military analyst and a rights campaigner criticized the decision to hold the leadership meeting in the war-torn province of Aceh, saying it would certainly impact on the current peace process there.

He claimed policies on Aceh were not discussed as it was the responsibility of Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Ryamizard, however, told the press that there was no intention of deploying more troops in Aceh despite increasing disturbances in the regency of Central Aceh.

He further said that the Army would rearrange military personnel in the Trikora and Iskandar Muda military commands in Papua and Aceh respectively.

The Iskandar Muda military command controls three infantry units in East Aceh, Bireuen and Meulaboh.

There was no need to deploy more troops in Aceh if local people could maintain security, he said.

The four-star general added that Army soldiers would keep protecting vital oil assets in Aceh and vowed to bring those extorting money from foreign companies there to court.

The meeting took place at the assembly hall of gas company PT Arun.

Ryamizard said the meeting was aimed at showing Army leaders the condition in Aceh as well as giving soldiers moral support. It would also convince Aceh people on the commitment of the Army to solve problems.

Rizal Sukma of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and Munir, a co-founder of the National Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) said the meeting in Aceh was a vote of no-confidence in the government's handling of the Aceh question.

They also warned that "time has shown that the military approach has never helped the country cope with separatism conflicts."

Rizal said the meeting, ending Friday, could only mean that the military, especially the Army, was annoyed with the government's decision to promote a non-violent solution to the Aceh problem.

"It's a pity that thus far civilian politicians have also failed to uphold their supremacy over the military in dealing with conflicts across the country," Rizal said during a seminar organized to discuss the controversial bill on military and its territorial role.

Munir regretted the Army's decision to hold the meeting there, expressing fears that it would affect the ongoing peace process.