Govt to revoke Aceh martial law

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta

President Megawati Soekarnoputri agreed on Thursday to lower the martial law status in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam to a state of civil emergency but would let integrated military and police operations continue.

"Despite the state of civil emergency, the integrated operations will go on and 11 villages that are still under GAM influence will be treated differently," interim coordinating minister for political and security affairs Hari Sabarno said after a Cabinet meeting on Aceh.

The operations include military offensives against the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels. Others focus on humanitarian missions, economic recovery, improving the regional administration and law enforcement.

Hari said despite the lifting of martial law, the province's governor would not necessarily run the administration, as stipulated by Law No. 23/1959 on the state of emergency.

"Read the law carefully, especially Article 4 on the administration of a region where a state of civil emergency is imposed. The power does not necessarily rest in the governor," Hari said.

Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh through his lawyer O.C. Kaligis recently requested protection from the House of Representatives due to allegations he was involved in several corruption cases.

The martial law administration in Aceh has conducted preliminary investigation into the graft cases, which will be taken over by the Attorney General's Office.

Puteh has never been questioned in connection with the cases due to the absence of Megawati's consent.

Hari said after a year, the military operation in Aceh had brought security and order back to the natural resource-rich province but had not rooted out the rebels.

"Until now, we have only reduced the numbers of GAM troops by around 60 percent and confiscated about 40 percent of their weapons. To prevent (GAM) from becoming a new threat, the presence of the military has to be maintained," the minister said.

Belying the government's claim of improvement in security and order in the province, the National Commission on Human Rights says it has discovered forced "disappearances" and displacement, rapes, judicial killings and arbitrary arrests during the martial law period.

Megawati declared martial law in Aceh on May 19, 2003 for a six-month period after efforts to salvage a peace agreement signed between government and GAM representatives in Tokyo, December 2002, broke down.

Megawati extended martial law for another six months in November last year. Unlike the first phase, which was aimed at gaining territorial control of the province, the extension was intended to allow the Acehnese to exercise their right to vote in the April 5 legislative election.

Hari said the new civil emergency status would also help ensure the peace was kept in the presidential election on July 5 and the possible run-off on Sept. 20.

To monitor the implementation of the state of civil emergency, a team led by Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) head Mar'ie Muhammad would continue its work, Hari said.

The change in status will give the police the main role of maintaining security in the province but in certain conditions the Indonesian Military (TNI) could be involved.

"Security will be in the hands of the police but they can ask for help from the TNI in emergencies. We will confirm the structure of the civil emergency framework at the Cabinet meeting on Monday and decide who will lead the province," Hari said.

Under the new status, the government will increase sea and air patrols in the Strait of Malacca to block the supply of weapons and materials to GAM.

Another focus of the security operation is the release of over 200 civilian hostages, including RCTI cameraman Fery Santoro, who has been held by GAM for over a year.