Experts calls on government to lift martial law in Aceh

Experts calls on government to lift martial law in Aceh

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Experts have called on the government to lift martial law imposed
on Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam since May 19 and back instead a
clean, civilian government to lead the Acehnese to the 2004
general elections.

Former human rights minister Hasballah M. Saad and sociologist
Otto Syamsuddin Ishak said on Sunday that martial law could only
damage the democratic process in the province during the upcoming
elections.

They also said that the failure of military authorities there
to prepare a civilian government in Aceh could be construed as a
failure of the integrated operation in Aceh, which included as
one of its aims the strengthening of the civil administration.

"Despite various excesses, we agree the military offensive in
Aceh has helped to create a more positive situation for civilians
because it has reduced the strength of the separatist Free Aceh
Movement.

"I think the military would have a good exit strategy if it
also helped prepare civilians to take over the administration in
Aceh, instead of asking for an extension to the military campaign
in the province," Hasballah told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

The government placed troubled Aceh province under martial law
on May 19 and launched an all-out military offensive to wipe out
GAM rebels from the province, where they have been fighting for
independence for the resource-rich province since 1976.

With at least 35,000 troops on the ground, the Indonesian
Military (TNI) has reportedly killed close to 1,000 GAM members
since the operation started. The secessionist movement has around
5,000 active members across the province.

"If the martial law administrator has to replace civilian
officials due to alleged corruption or other serious offenses, he
must do so without hesitation" Hasballah said.

Meanwhile, Otto said Jakarta had to support the establishment
of a clean, civilian government in Aceh, saying that the
remaining month of martial law was enough for the central
government to do so.

He said the TNI's credibility was questionable if it was
reluctant to replace allegedly corrupt officials in Aceh and
continue cooperation with them.

"After the six-month military campaign in Aceh, I think it
will be high time for it (the TNI) to organize a transfer of
power to civilians. Of course, the martial law administrator
should establish a clean bureaucracy, otherwise people will
question why it (the TNI) is continuing cooperation with corrupt
civilian officials," Otto said.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri issued a decree in mid-May to
impose martial law in Aceh to allow government troops to
annihilate GAM, but even before the six-month state of emergency
had expired, the TNI was already seeking an extension.

The TNI argued that the extension was necessary "to maintain
the current situation" in Aceh ahead of the 2004 general
elections.

It also said that imposing martial law only on several
regencies considered GAM strongholds was too risky because "it
will allow the rebels to move to other, safer areas that are out
of the TNI's reach."

Besides crushing the separatist movement, the integrated
operation was also aimed at enforcing the law, strengthening the
civil administration and providing humanitarian assistance.

But Otto, who is also a sociologist with the Aceh-based Syah
Kuala State University, said that none of the operations had been
accomplished because the Acehnese showed obedience to the martial
law administrator out of fear, instead of a willingness to be
part of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia.

"Jakarta has to restore pride to the Acehnese with respect to
why they should be part of this republic; as long as violence
continues to take place there, the government will never win the
hearts and minds of the Acehnese," Otto told the Post.

Hasballah said an extension of military operations in Aceh
would cost the state some Rp 1.3 trillion; the funds would be
better used if "the government allocated them to improve the
welfare of the Acehnese to win their hearts and minds."