Govt to send fraudsters, terrorists to island jail

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Citing fragile peace in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, Governor Abdullah Puteh proposed on Monday an extension of the state of civil emergency in the war-torn province.

During a meeting between governors across the country and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Monday, Puteh said the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatist rebels group remained an imminent danger to the province.

"We propose three options: Extending the civil emergency for another six months, extending it for the three months, or imposing the state of emergency only to certain areas that are prone to the conflict," Puteh told a media conference.

However, he fell short of elaborating in which regencies would need to maintain the state of emergency.

Puteh said several areas remained under strong influence of the GAM, despite the fact that the state of emergency law had been effective for 18 months.

"The security condition is more favorable now, except for minor disturbances that continuously occur, so the security authority need to stay on alert," the governor said.

Former president Megawati Soekarnoputri imposed martial law in Aceh on May 19, 2003, after peace negotiations with GAM broke down. The operation to support martial law cost the state over Rp 2 trillion (US$219.8 million) for one year.

Megawati lowered the status to a state of civil emergency, which expires on Nov. 19, 2004.

Earlier on Sunday, Cabinet members dealing with security were asked to visit the province to review whether the 18-month-long operation managed to improve peace in the province.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Widodo Adi Sucipto said a comprehensive assessment of the implementation of the state of civil emergency in Aceh would be conducted soon. He said so far the government might keep the emergency status intact only in several areas deemed as prone to attacks from the rebels.

Widodo also said there was an option to lift the state of emergency, but maintained the military operation to crush rebels across the province.

Minister of Home Affairs M. Ma'ruf said the government has yet to reach a certain decision on Aceh, pending the comprehensive assessment by the security ministers.

"The President only said the settlement would be announced in time and after the assessment is completed," Ma'ruf told the same press conference.

He further disclosed that Susilo would make a field trip to Aceh before Nov. 19 to see for himself the real situation.

"We will set a schedule as soon as possible, but we cannot disclose further details at the moment," the minister said.