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)