Govt divides labor in Aceh recovery work
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.