Habibie says Aceh referendum impossible

Habibie says Aceh referendum impossible

JAKARTA (JP): Aceh students demonstrated in Banda Aceh on
Monday, demanding a referendum to determine their own future,
while President B.J. Habibie here flatly denied this was
possible.

The President also said the reestablishment of the military
command scheduled for Wednesday would be postponed.

Minister of Defense and Security/Indonesian Military (TNI)
Chief Gen. Wiranto confirmed later on Monday that the government
had agreed to delay the reestablishment of Iskandar Muda Military
Command in response to "people's aspiration."

The general said the government actually had agreed to reopen
the military command based on the request of local authorities
and its provincial legislative council.

"We will let (the reopening) be decided by the new DPRD
(provincial council)," Wiranto said after attending the Council
for Enforcement of Security and Law at Bina Graha presidential
office.

A cabinet meeting, chaired by Habibie, had decided last week
to reopen the military command despite strong opposition from
ulema and students, saying it would only add people's suffering.

In Banda Aceh, as East Timorese cast their votes in a number
of towns across the country, some 500 Acehnese students marched
to the local legislature, repeating demands for a referendum to
enable Acehnese to also decide whether to remain within Indonesia
or become independent.

Demonstrators occupied the building for two hours before
dispersing peacefully without interference from riot troops, who
they confronted in a rally on Saturday.

In Jakarta Habibie ruled out the possibility of a referendum.

"There will be no referendum there this year, in the next five
years or even the next ten years," chairman of the National
Mandate Party (PAN) Amien Rais quoted Habibie as saying during a
meeting with seven leading political parties.

After the meeting Habibie was also quoted as saying by an
official from PAN's Aceh chapter, A. Farhan, that he would
postpone the reestablishment of the Iskandar Muda Command set for
Sept. 1, "both in his capacity as President and commander in
chief of the armed forces".

The students in Monday's demonstrations also demanded the
withdrawal of all troops and soldiers from remote villages, and
the trial of those involved in military atrocities since 1989,
when the military operation against separatists began.

Ministers visiting Aceh on Saturday were also reminded of
Habibie's promise to end violence and bring justice to the
Acehnese.

At the meeting with Habibie, Farhan said the leaders of the
seven parties agreed that the establishment of the military
command was not yet necessary and should be discussed further by
the President and the House of Representatives.

He said the parties suggested that the task of maintaining
security in Aceh be entrusted to the National Police.

The other parties attending the meeting were the United
Development Party (PPP), the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), the Golkar Party, the Islamic
Community Party (PUI), the Crescent Star Party (PBB) and the
Justice Party.

Police in Aceh are now in charge of special operations against
rebels.

Also on Monday, Antara reported that 12,000 hectares of shrimp
and fish ponds had been neglected in Pidie, North Aceh and East
Aceh.

The head of the provincial fisheries agency, Kasbani Kasim,
said in Banda Aceh on Monday that owners were suffering great
losses because of the lack of security there.

Thousands of workers have been forced to seek other work.

"Shrimps are a major export to Malaysia and Singapore through
Belawan Port in North Sumatra, which yields Rp 10 billion each
year in foreign exchange," Kasbani said.

The fear increased when a number of fishery owners and workers
became victims of separate killings by unknown people, an owner,
M. Yusuf, said. (prb/anr)