House, government strike deal on Aceh status

JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives and the government agreed on Sunday to continue with dialogs, instead of declaring a civil emergency status, in attempting to solve the complicated situation in the troubled province of Aceh.

The decision, reached after a four-hour private meeting at the House, was announced jointly by House Speaker Akbar Tandjung, and Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

"We proposed the government adopt our recommendations which among other things, avoids applying civil emergency status in Aceh ... and we (finally) agreed on it," Akbar told a press conference after the consultative meeting.

During the meeting, the government was represented by, among others, Susilo, Minister of Home Affairs and Regional Autonomy Soerjadi Soedirdja, Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab, Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Adm. Widodo AS and the State Intelligence Coordinating Board (Bakin) Chief Arie J. Kumaat.

According to Akbar, the government also agreed to the House proposal, submitted last year, to give special autonomy to Aceh.

Following government approval, the House will draft a bill on special autonomy for Aceh in which the area would be Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (State Aceh Darussalam) based on a suggestion proposed by the Aceh provincial legislative.

"We hope the bill can be passed early next year. We are waiting for further input from the government," said Akbar, who is also chairman of the Golkar party.

According to Susilo, dialogs to settle the prolonged conflicts in Aceh will involve many parties, such as those from the Information Center for Aceh People (SIRA), Muslim leaders, and students. The dialogs will not be held with the Aceh Independent Movement (GAM) only, he said.

"The government agreed to dialogs structured on the current humanitarian pause," Susilo said.

The minister denied that the government came to the House to seek political support for declaring a civil emergency status.

He said an emergency status was only one of several options available, which were avoided due to the risks.

Asked to comment on a plan by GAM to announce independence on Dec. 4, Susilo reminded that such a declaration or "anniversary celebration" should not be held because it would violate the law.

Commenting on a possible trip to Aceh by the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, he said the government had no objection as long as it was constructive.

"But technicalities need to be discussed, such as the safety aspect. There is no objection even though the visit will take place in an unstable area," he added.

Susilo earlier revealed a possibility of declaring civil emergency status for Aceh since dialogs were considered ineffective so far at decreasing armed conflict in the province.

On Friday, Adm. Widodo said that should dialogs fail, civil emergency status would only be imposed as the last option.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction at the House urged the government, if it has to apply the emergency status later, to impose it for a limited period and only in certain regencies or mayoralties.

Such a move "could be called Ramadhan fasting month initiative, comprising principles, concessions and negotiations to be offered to the Aceh people," said party secretary Heri Akhmadi.

His party, he said, felt that the emergency status could be adopted right now.

"We would consider applying (the emergency status) if GAM announces its independence on Dec. 4," Heri told reporters after the Sunday meeting. (jun)