Gus Dur seeks to hasten legal process of activist Nazar

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid is seeking to moderate the detention of Aceh Referendum Information Center (SIRA) chairman Muhammad Nazar to a city or house arrest.

"Gus Dur would like to hasten Nazar's (legal) process in the courts," presidential spokesman Wimar Witoelar told journalists at Merdeka Palace here on Tuesday, adding that the President would like Nazar not to be detained in prison during proceedings.

According to Wimar, the President also met an Aceh representative on Monday who came to plead for Nazar's release.

Nazar was arrested on Nov. 20 on charges of creating public disorder during a protest held coincident with the commemoration of Indonesia Independence Day on Aug. 17, when SIRA displayed a banner, proclaiming Indonesia a "Neocolonialist".

SIRA also organized the Mass Gathering for Peace (SIRA RAKAN) on Nov. 11, which drew tens of thousands of Acehnese to the capital of Banda Aceh.

In Banda Aceh, spokesman for the police's Cinta Meunasah Operation, Supt. Yatim Suyatmo, said police have not yet received any orders for Nazar's arrest status to be changed.

"It's the National Police and the President's decision. I'm not at liberty to talk about it," Yatim said.

However, he did remark that it would be safer for Nazar to remain in police custody for his own safety.

"At least if something happens to him, we have a responsible party on the matter. If he's out there, who knows what will happen to him?" Yatim remarked without elaborating.

Continuing, Yatim said that Nazar had been transferred back to detention under the Aceh Besar Police Precinct after being in the custody of the Aceh Police headquarters.

"Legally, Nazar is a detainee of Aceh Besar Police. We moved him to Aceh Police headquarters because the cell in Aceh Besar Precinct was inundated with flood waters. It's only a matter of practicality," Yatim told The Jakarta Post by telephone from Banda Aceh.

The police precinct facility is located on Jl. Tengku Daud Bereu-eh, only about one kilometer from Aceh Police Headquarters on Jl. Cut Meutia in Banda Aceh.

Sources said Nazar had been abruptly transferred from his cell in Aceh Police headquarters at around 11:30 p.m. on the eve of Idul Fitri on Dec. 26 without notifying his lawyer.

Nazar's lawyer, Maimul Fidar, claimed that his client was transferred following threats from other inmates.

"We have asked the Aceh Police chief and Aceh Governor to change Nazar's status to city arrest following the Ramadhan fasting month. Basically they said they have no problem with it ... but so far no decision has been made," Maimul said.

Maimul, who also heads Aceh's Human Rights Coalition NGOs, said he did not object to his client's transfer but regretted the way it was done especially without notifying him.

Separately the Director General for Political Affairs at the Foreign Ministry in Jakarta, Hasan Wirayuda, said on Tuesday that talks between the government and representatives of the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) next week in Geneva.

"We hope to find a solution on the Aceh problem," Hasan said noting the government was open for to talks as long as it was in the framework of maintaining Aceh within the unitary state of Indonesia.

"The talks between the government and Hasan Tiro, or his representative, will may be held between Jan. 6 and Jan. 8," Hasan said.

The talks are part of the ongoing Humanitarian Pause. However top government officials have said that Jakarta will not agree to a further extension on the accord.

The Humanitarian Pause was signed in Geneva in May and extended for three months in September.

Hasan maintained that the possibility of extending the accord depends on the results of the talks in Geneva.

In Geneva the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue also confirmed that talks will resume next week.

The three-day talks are the fourth round since June.

"The leaderships of the two sides have agreed to come to talks on substantive issues leading to a solution to the conflict in Aceh, as agreed in September 2000," said Andy Andrea, spokesman for the Swiss-based humanitarian group said on Tuesday, as quoted by Reuters.

"These talks will take place in Switzerland between January 8- 10." (02/50/edt)