Govt ponders limited martial law in Aceh

Tiarma Siboro and Fitri Wulandari, Jakarta

The government is considering a slight alteration to the martial law currently in force across Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam to one which applies only in regions where it is considered necessary.

Interim Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Hari Sabarno said the proposed continuation of martial law in certain regencies or cities was needed because various parts of the governments' "integrated operations" had not shown much progress.

"The situation in some areas is nearly back to normal, meaning local resistance to the separatist movement is increasing, and the government is working well and law enforcement is evident," Hari claimed after attending a Cabinet meeting on Thursday.

Military operations, law enforcement, local administrations with leaders loyal to Jakarta and humanitarian operations make up what the government has termed the "integrated operations" in Aceh.

The Indonesian Military (TNI) has identified several regencies as strongholds of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), which it still promises to stamp out. Those include Aceh Besar, Pidie, Bireun, North Aceh and East Aceh. Meanwhile, several places like Gayo, Tamiang, Singkil, Alas and Central Aceh have been declared "clean areas" where martial law will likely end.

Hari said the government was also considering an extension of province-wide martial law but was quick to add that it was "only one alternative." Martial law in Aceh, declared effective on May 19, 2003, met widespread criticism from inside and outside the country, with rights activists saying that if needed, it should only be applied in certain regencies.

During the meeting with President Megawati Soekarnoputri, Hari said the proposals raised regarding Aceh were first, limited, area-specific martial law.

Second, to extend martial law everywhere, "and the other is to change it to a state of civil emergency," Hari said, adding that the government would make a final decision on Aceh during a limited Cabinet meeting sometime before May 19, when the second six-month martial law mandate expires.

"The President asked the Cabinet to consider various aspects before deciding on the status of the province," Hari said.

Earlier in the day, Hari led a coordinating meeting on political and security affairs at his office on recommendations regarding Aceh. Participants included TNI Chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto, Aceh governor Abdullah Puteh and Aceh Martial Law Administrator Endang Suwarya.

Martial law gives the military full authority to manage the integrated operation, including the massive deployment of around 40,000 of troops and police personnel to hunt down a few thousand GAM fighters.

Criticism of martial law has been largely directed at the fact that Aceh was already a military operation zone (nearly similar to the current martial law) from 1988 to 1998 with the mandate to eliminate GAM, a period in which activists say over 10,000 people were killed and rights were abused, but GAM apparently thrived.

Despite strong objections from political analysts, the President extended martial law in November for another six months arguing that the government should maintain security ahead of the April 5 legislative election. The military has claimed that 1,300 GAM fighters have been killed since May last year and that around 2,300 others have surrendered.

Hari said the government will now stress economic development in Aceh, which "is important to prevent people from becoming separatists."