Govt to revoke Aceh martial law
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.