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)