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."