Government services grinding to a halt in Aceh

Government services grinding to a halt in Aceh

BANDA ACEH (JP): A climate of uncertainty prevailed on
Thursday in the province of Aceh as thousands of demonstrators
again clamored for independence and government services in
several regencies ground to a halt.

Some 3,000 students protested in front of the provincial
council building here, demanding a referendum which included an
option for independence be held in the province.

Grouped in the Student Solidarity for Referendum and Forum of
Justice Fighters for Acehnese, the students also rejected calls
to impose martial law in Aceh.

Dozens of buses, as well as other means of public transport,
brought demonstrators to the council building at about 8:45 a.m..

The students yelled slogans demanding a referendum and
listened to recitals of the Koran.

The well organized and peaceful protest dispersed without
incident four hours later.

Separately here, Governor Syamsuddin Mahmud noted that the
situation in the province was becoming more serious day by day.
He said several regencies were now completely paralyzed.

Speaking at a seminar, Syamsuddin said that due to the
precarious security situation, many government employees were not
going to work.

He said law enforcement was becoming more and more difficult
to uphold and was forcing many non-Acehnese residents in the
province to flee in fear.

Meanwhile, in Panji Mulia village, Bukit district, Central
Aceh, arsonists torched on Thursday morning four houses, causing
the death of two women.

The victims were identified as Jatmi, 30, and Kasmawati, 20.

Central Aceh Police chief Lt. Col. Misik Natari quoted witness
Suryanto, whose house was gutted, as saying that shortly before
the arson attack a group of armed men fired at houses in the
village.

"Suryanto survived with two gunshot wounds and was rushed to
hospital for further treatment," Misik said.

Demands

Despite President Abdurrahman Wahid's public rejection of the
imposition of limited martial law in the province, senior
military officials pleaded again on Thursday for their case.

In Makassar, South Sulawesi, outgoing Indonesian Military
(TNI) Chief of Staff Gen. Subagyo Hadisiswoyo said the martial
law option should still be considered given the grave situation.

"I think that under the serious circumstances (in Aceh), where
the condition is deteriorating day by day, including large
casualties among the security officers ... that it's of great
concern," Subagyo said.

"It all depends on the people of Aceh now. If the Acehnese can
understand and are willing to settle the matter together
properly, there is no need to implement martial law," he told
journalists after installing Maj. Gen. Agus Wirahadikusmah as
Wirabuana Military Command. Agus is replacing Lt. Gen. Suaidi
Marasabessy, who was promoted as chief of TNI's general affairs
department.

Meanwhile in Jakarta, TNI spokesman, Maj. Gen. Sudrajat said
on Thursday that the military faced a dilemma. He said that on
the one hand TNI had to maintain order, while on the other hand
it had officially withdrawn from the province.

"Aceh is facing a chaotic condition, the leaders should decide
its political stance and the TNI position as soon as possible,"
he said.

The two-star general said that martial law should not be
equated with the military operation previously taken in the
province.

"Martial law is imposed to instill order and a normal
condition in a province where the local government can run as
usual."

He said the province might need martial law because the only
party currently willing to enter the area was the military.

"Martial law is not meant to add to the killing or violence,
but to reactivate general services and hunt down unauthorized
armed men in the region," Sudrajat said.

The President, civilian Cabinet members and various non-
governmental organizations, as well as community leaders have
condemned the plan to impose martial law.

In Yogyakarta, political observer Ichlasul Amal warned that if
martial law was imposed it would trigger greater unrest and
resistance in Aceh.

Political observer Pratikno of Gadjah Mada University warned
that Acehnese might not be satisfied only with a referendum on
the implementation of Syariah (Islamic law) in the province.

"The Aceh case needs to be solved within the national
political system. The government also must avoid over punishing
the military as not all of them are responsible for the military
operations in Aceh," Pratikno said.

"If they do, TNI will be further cornered and it may trigger
rebellious acts toward the government. This must be prevented,"
he said. (04/27/44/50/edt)