Govt ponders limited martial law in Aceh

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."