Govt vows to restore peace in Aceh by Aug. 17

JAKARTA (JP): While the government may have doubts that it can meet its own Aug. 17 deadline for a thorough settlement to the Aceh problem, it has nevertheless promised to restore the security needed by people in the province so that they can resume living normal lives.

Speaking after a ministerial meeting led by Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri, Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs Agum Gumelar described the government's impending efforts as all being measures that would bring about "a great improvement" in Aceh.

"We expect that people in Aceh will have the courage to celebrate Independence Day, and that the basic needs of the people will be fulfilled and all vital installations will be fully operational by Aug. 17," Agum said.

Indonesia will celebrate the 56th anniversary of its independence on Aug. 17.

Aceh has had no respite from violence since the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) took up arms in the mid-1970's to fight for Acehnese independence from Indonesia.

Agum said that the government would concentrate on non- security development in the troubled province and continue the peace talks with GAM.

An Indonesian delegation led by Hassan Wirajuda, the Director General for Politics at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will attend talks with GAM representatives in Geneva between June 30 and July 1.

Agum said that aside from the peace talks with GAM, the government would also urge the House of Representatives to finish its deliberations on the Aceh Special Autonomy Law by July 18.

The minister acknowledged that there were many problems, especially in security field, hindering Aceh's economic and social development.

"From the current reports on economic development in Aceh, we can see that there are many problems that have to be dealt with, and most of the problems are related to the security question," he remarked.

The meeting on Monday was aimed at evaluating the implementation of Presidential Instruction No.4/2001 on Aceh, which was issued in April and sets out how a peaceful solution is to be brought about in the troubled province.

Regional autonomy is one of six issues on the agenda prepared by the government to settle Aceh's problems. Others are based upon the economy, social programs, law and order, the restoration of security and the dissemination of information.

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Burhanuddin Abdullah also admitted that there had been a slowdown in economic development in the province and that growth had not been as fast as the government had expected following the issuance of the presidential instruction in April.

"We admit that there have been many delays in the implementation of development in Aceh. These would not have happened if the security situation were better. We will try to speed up the development programs," Burhanuddin said at the press briefing.

He said that under to the presidential instruction, the government had allocated some Rp 7.7 trillion (US$700million) from the state budget for the province, some Rp 6.9 trillion of which was being channeled to the local administrations.

However, as of June only Rp 1.1 trillion of the fund had been disbursed and the realization of many development projects, according to the list of development projects in the province, remained slow.

"We are still trying to finish the processing of some contracts and are preparing some projects to be put out to tender, especially in the technical departments," Burhanuddin said.

He explained that the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry was contributing 8.6 percent of the projects, Ministry of Telecommunication and Transportation 28 percent and Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration 29.8 percent.

"There has been some progress, but it was not as fast as we expected, so the Vice President has stressed to us the need to find solution to speed up the whole process," Burhanuddin remarked.

Separately, Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh stated that so far the planned economic program to empower the local people "just did not work as the promised funds from the central government have never been transferred."

Abdullah stressed that all that had been carried out in Aceh was a massive law enforcement operation which many viewed as being "excessive" as it was not followed up by economic development projects for the province's traumatized residents.

"The fact here is that many development programs cannot be carried out. Many factors are contributing to this situation, but the most important factor is that the state funds haven't reached us."

Abdullah also revealed that he had complained directly to the relevant ministers about the sluggish disbursement of funds to his administration.

"So let's hope that they (the ministers) respond to our demands soon," Abdullah told reporters at his office. (50/dja)