Govt divides labor in Aceh recovery work
Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta
The government issued on Wednesday guidelines for the implementation of integrated operations in Aceh under a state of civil emergency, which restrict the governor's authority to power over local administrations.
Interim coordinating minister for political and security affairs Hari Sabarno said all related ministries and institutions in the central government would oversee the implementation of the integrated operations, which would be carried out by specified local officials.
Speaking after a coordinating meeting on Aceh, Hari said the guidelines assigned the Indonesian Military (TNI) chief to oversee military operations in the troubled province, while the Aceh military commander would follow orders coming from TNI Headquarters.
The National Police chief will have full authority over law enforcement in Aceh, but he can delegate tasks to the Aceh Police chief.
The office of the coordinating minister for the economy, the office of the coordinating minister for people's welfare and the home affairs ministry will supervise three other operations in Aceh and delegate jobs to local offices.
"The Ministry of Home Affairs will oversee the Aceh governor in the implementation of local administration, while the Ministry of Social Affairs will delegate its tasks to the Aceh deputy governor in charge of people's welfare," said Hari, who is also minister of home affairs.
In regards to economic recovery in the province, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti has yet to name an institution or person who will be in charge of operations. He has, however, temporarily assigned the regional planning agency to carry out all policies issued by his office.
Present at the Wednesday meeting were Dorodjatun, TNI chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto, National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar, National Intelligence Agency chief A.M. Hendropriyono and Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh.
Steps to limit Puteh's power come after legal authorities unveiled several corruption cases in which the governor has been implicated. The cases involve billions of rupiah from the state budget.
Puteh has undergone questioning at the National Police Headquarters in Jakarta over alleged corruption in the purchase of a power generator for Rp 30 billion (US$33 million). He has also been questioned by the Corruption Eradication Commission over alleged markups in the procurement of a Russian-made Mi-2 helicopter that may have caused some Rp 6 billion in state losses.
A presidential decree issued on May 19 lowering the 12-month martial law in Aceh to a state of civil emergency says Puteh must consult with other officials and the central government before taking a decision, instead of having full power in accordance with Law No. 23/1959 on civil emergency.
President Megawati Soekarnoputri earlier issued an instruction on the establishment of a body she heads to supervise the implementation of the civil emergency in Aceh.
About 40,000 security troops who were deployed to crush the Free Aceh Movement during martial law, meanwhile, will be maintained in the province.
The central government has also deployed two special teams to assist in the implementation of the civil emergency in Aceh.