Foreign aid workers must register: TNI

The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh, Jakarta

The government on Tuesday slapped tough restrictions on foreign aid workers currently in Aceh, citing security fears, and creating yet another setback in relief operations.

Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto said security forces could not guarantee the safety of more than 2,000 civilian foreigner aid workers presently involved in the massive international aid effort, from separatist rebels in Aceh.

Foreign aid workers outside the provincial capital of Banda Aceh must register with and get permission from the TNI so the soldiers could ensure their safety, he added.

"The government is still conducting armed activities. I don't want any foreigners here killed. For the time being we'll escort foreigners who are working outside Banda Aceh," Endriartono was quoted by AFP as saying in the ravaged city.

Further measures would see Indonesian military liaison officers posted on all foreign planes and ships delivering aid, and all would have to obtain clearance permits.

In Jakarta, State Secretary Sudi Silalahi defended the military's decision to restrict the movement of foreigners in Aceh, reiterating that it was for security reasons.

Speaking after a Cabinet meeting on issues after the Dec. 26 tsunami that killed more than 105,000 people in Aceh and North Sumatra, Sudi said the government was trying to prevent incidents that could endanger the lives of foreigners.

"It would be just terrible if people get kidnapped or injured by the separatist movement in Aceh. It's not a restriction, but simply a way to ensure the safety of our foreign friends," he explained.

Before the catastrophe devastated Aceh, access to the province had been almost totally closed as the government pursued a major military offensive against Free Aceh Movement (GAM) members. But the doors were flung open two weeks ago to allow relief to pour in.

According to Endriartono, a foreign medical worker was briefly taken hostage and some supply convoys were ambushed. However, he did not say when or where the incidents took place.

Meanwhile, GAM commander-in-chief Muzakkir Manaf dismissed the TNI's claim that foreign aid workers were in danger from his group.

The guerrillas guaranteed the safety of all foreigners in Aceh and gave them free access to all areas there, he said.

"Such a restriction (by the TNI) is merely a move aimed at scaring off international aid workers, and it comes amid tremendous anxiety over their presence in Aceh," said a press statement signed by Manaf.

Sidney Jones, from the International Crisis Group, told AFP that claims of a rebel threat were unfounded and an attempt to reassert TNI control in Aceh.

"What they (rebels) want more than anything else is for an international presence to be there and stay there for a long time. It would go completely against the grain for them to mount attacks (against foreigners)."

The United Nations' coordinator for the relief efforts in Aceh, Joel Boutroue, said there was no threat to relief agencies in the province, but the new development would not cause problems.

"It's normal for the government to want to know where people are," he said.

The restriction will, however, likely cause further confusion in the already troubled relief effort. Despite an abundance of resources and manpower, aid workers were still struggling to deliver assistance to some devastated areas.

Also on Tuesday, Minister of Defense Juwono Soedarsono renewed the government's offer of a cease-fire with GAM, but said so far there were no answers from the rebels.

"It is a disaster for everybody, for the Acehnese, for the Indonesian government and GAM. We have asked them (the rebels) to join hands with the TNI in the humanitarian operations, but they have yet to answer," he said.

However, GAM spokesman Bakhtiar Abdullah reiterated a call for a cessation of hostilities in Aceh and said the Acehnese people had suffered enough from the tsunami.

"If a peace dialog is something possible, we will agree to return to negotiation table and start talking about how to stop hostilities in Aceh. We should take a step back from talking about the unitary state (of Indonesia) versus independence (for Aceh)," Bakhtiar told The Jakarta Post by phone from Sweden. Related stories on Pages 2,3,6,7,11,13,19,20 Editorial -- Page 6