House backs Aceh emergency extension

House backs Aceh emergency extension

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

The extension of the civil emergency in the troubled province of
Aceh is now a foregone conclusion as the House of Representatives
has thrown its support behind the government.

House Speaker Agung Laksono said on Sunday that the House had
no objection to the government's plan to extend the state of
civil emergency as it was in line with the view of the local
legislative council.

"We have no objection to the plan. I have heard the proposal
for the extension directly from local council members, and that
represents the people's aspirations," Agung said after greeting
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Sunday, the first day of
the Idul Fitri celebrations.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security
Affairs Widodo A.S. said last Friday that the current civil
emergency would be kept in place in Aceh, albeit with a number of
adjustments, including the areas covered and its duration.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is slated to hold a meeting
with House leaders on Wednesday at the State Palace to discuss
the Aceh issue.

According to the law, the imposition of both a state of
martial law and of civil emergency in any part of the country
requires the approval of the House.

"The extension is necessary as we have to maintain the
security situation in the province. According to local council
members, there are still potential threats," Agung said.

Aceh has been put under a state of emergency since May 19,
2003, following the failure of peace talks between the government
and leaders of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).

Former president Megawati Soekarnoputri imposed martial law in
Aceh on May 19, 2003, but reduced this to a state of civil
emergency on May 19, 2004.

The six-month duration of the civil emergency will end on
Friday, and the government has to decide what it wants to do
after that.

Widodo said last Friday that the government would extend the
civil emergency but had yet to determine its length or the areas
covered.

The decision was made despite demands for the new government
to revive the peace talks with GAM leaders.

"We have to further decide whether the civil emergency will
only apply in certain regencies and not the whole province, as
well as the duration of the extension -- for three, four or six
months?" Widodo said after a limited Cabinet meeting.

Meanwhile, Army chief Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu said that the
extension of the emergency was aimed at fulfilling the public's
need for security.

"We are only trying to bring about peace in Aceh and the
decision to impose the emergency was taken to ensure the security
of the people," Ryamizard said after participating in Idul Fitri
prayers in Lhoksemawe, Aceh, last Sunday.

He said that despite of the improving security situation in
the province, GAM still posed a security threat in the province,
where insurgents have been fighting for independence for the
resource-rich province since 1976.

The four-star general said military operations would continue
until the military managed to eliminate the separatist movement.