Foreign aid workers must register: TNI

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