House, government strike deal on Aceh status

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)