Foreigners to be banned from war-torn province

Foreigners to be banned from war-torn province

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government has declared war-torn Aceh off limits to tourists
following the shooting of two German tourists last week.

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the decision was made for security
reasons.

"For the time being, we don't expect the presence of
foreigners at some tourist resorts in Aceh as the security
situation ... is not favorable," Susilo said after hearing a
pledge of allegiance to Indonesia by villagers from Damak in the
North Aceh regency on Saturday.

He said government regulations would be issued as soon as
possible to enforce the restriction.

The minister said the government would further review the
policy regarding the presence of foreign journalists and
humanitarian workers in the province.

"Their presence in the province will be managed in a certain
way for their own safety in carrying out their work in Aceh,"
Susilo was quoted by Antara as saying.

Lothar Heinrich Albert Engel died instantly while his wife,
Elizabeth Margaret Engel, 49, was shot in the knee when troops
opened fire on their makeshift campsite on the outskirts of a
village last week.

They were the first foreign casualties in the government's
military operation.

Sharing Susilo's opinion, Vice President Hamzah Haz called on
the martial law administrator in Aceh to close the province off
to all foreigners.

"I appeal to the martial law administrator to declare Aceh out
of bounds to tourists and foreigners," Hamzah said.

However, the Vice President also urged the police to
investigate the shooting of the two German nationals.

"The police should be given a chance to investigate the
incident."

Hamzah said he did not believe the incident involving the two
Germans would lead to a foreign investigation of the shooting.

The case should be investigated by local police, and there was
no need to invite German investigators, he said.

Hamzah also said that the German government should not file a
complaint with the Indonesian government over the shooting
incident as it occurred in an area under martial law.

Defense Attache at the German Embassy in Jakarta Col. Bruno
Hasenpusch visited the site of the shooting on Saturday,
accompanied by local military officer Col. Geerhan Lantara.

Meanwhile, nine soldiers involved in the shooting of the two
Germans had been told to go on leave until the investigations of
the incident were completed.

Navy Capt. Ditya Soedarsono from the Aceh martial law
administration said that the nine soldiers would not be punished
as they had followed standard procedures before the shooting took
place.