Government sends high-powered team to Aceh
Government sends high-powered team to Aceh
JAKARTA (JP): The government is sending a high-powered team to
Aceh and is freeing six detained rebel peace negotiators in a bid
to speed up a resolution of the conflict plaguing the restive
province.
A strong entourage of 13 high-ranking officials comprising
ministers and security chiefs, will arrive in Banda Aceh on
Tuesday, from where they will travel by land to Lhokseumawe, the
stronghold of the armed separatist movement.
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who will lead the two-day visit, said
on Monday that the visit was aimed to find short-term and
immediate solutions to the complex problems in the strife-torn
province.
"We want to stop the violence, we want to create a secure
atmosphere among the people," Susilo said.
Susilo also revealed that President Megawati Soekarnoputri had
agreed to release six Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatist rebel
negotiators.
"The President approved the release of the six negotiators on
condition they did not violate the existing laws again," Susilo
said.
Susilo, however, did not explain what he meant by "not
violating the law again."
The six detained negotiators are Tengku Nashiruddin bin Ahmad,
Amni bin Marzuki, Amdi bin Hamdani, T. Kamaruzzaman, T. Mahmud
and Sofyan Ibrahim Tiba.
The first five were arrested in mid-July, while Sofyan was
arrested at his home on Aug. 4. They were all charged with
subversion, following a setback in peace negotiations between GAM
and the government.
"The government's reason for releasing the six GAM negotiators
is to underline the importance of dialog in resolving the Aceh
issue," Susilo remarked.
President Megawati recently apologized to the territory for
past abuses and has promised to visit the province in the first
week of September.
As she is leaving for a trip to neighboring countries on
Tuesday, Megawati has asked Vice President Hamzah Haz to devote
more attention to publicizing the Nanggroe Aceh autonomy law,
which is aimed at giving the Acehnese more control over their own
affairs.
"The President asked me to pay attention to the Aceh problem,
especially in the economic field, ahead of her visit to the
province early next month," Hamzah told journalists after a
meeting with the President on Monday.
Megawati also summoned on Monday all three of her coordinating
ministers to discus the Aceh problem, especially the escalation
of tension before, during and after the Independence Day
celebrations on Aug. 17.
Coordinating Minister for the Economy Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-
Jakti and Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla
will join the entourage to visit Aceh on Tuesday.
Also included in the high-profile visit are Indonesian
Military (TNI) Commander Adm. Widodo A.S., National Police chief
Gen. Surojo Bimantoro, Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno,
Minister of Defense Matori Abdul Djalil and Minister of Justice
and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra.
Top military brass such as TNI chief of general affairs Lt.
Gen. Djamari Chaniago and his operational assistant Maj. Gen.
Adam Damiri will also be in the entourage.
Ahead of the visit, at least five people were killed in the
latest violence in restive Aceh on Sunday and Monday, police
said.
Police deputy spokesman of the Aceh law and order operation
Comr. Sudarsono told The Jakarta Post by phone from Banda Aceh
that in the latest incident a teenager was killed in a bomb blast
in North Aceh.
At around 10:30 a.m. on Monday, 18-year-old Edi Saputra was
killed and his friend Musliadi was critically injured when the
bomb they were carrying on a motorcycle exploded in Simpang Ulin
village, the officer explained.
A day before, two soldiers were killed in a gunbattle with GAM
rebels in Lhokseumawe, while on the same day in the Darussalam
district of Banda Aceh, a policeman, First Brig. Jayakusuma, was
found dead after he had been reported missing for about four
months. (dja/50/edt)