House Speaker condemns murder of Aceh legislator

JAKARTA (JP): Legislators on Friday condemned the murder of the People's Consultative Assembly legislator Teuku Abdul Djohan who was shot dead by unknown gunmen in Aceh.

The House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung said that he was shocked to hear of the incident and demanded police conduct a full investigation into the death of the Assembly member from the regional representative faction.

"We condemn such an inhumane act and ask security officers to take necessary steps to unravel the case as this is not the first murder of a legislator from Aceh," Akbar said on Friday.

Teuku Abdul Johan, 64, was Golkar Party's Aceh branch chairman. The retired major general was a former vice governor of Aceh and also once held the post of military resort commander in the province.

He is survived by a wife and six children.

According to reports the legislator was shot three times when walking home after evening prayers at the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque in Banda Aceh on Thursday.

He died instantly on the spot from gunshot wounds to the head and neck.

Akbar, who is also Golkar Party chairman, suspects a political motive behind the shooting as Teuku Johan was known as a government official and was a vocal critic of separatist movements in the country.

When asked whether he suspected the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) was behind the murder, Akbar said: "We have our suspicions but we cannot say so right away."

Last year, a legislator from the United Development Party (PPP) faction Tengku Nashiruddin Daud was murdered and his body was found in North Sumatra.

Another legislator from the National Awakening Party (PKB) Abdul Khaliq also expressed his concern over the murder and urged the government to consider more serious steps in dealing with the security situation in Aceh.

"In view of this incident maybe it's about time for us to consider a civil emergency state for Aceh because we have to protect the rights of innocent people," Abdul told The Jakarta Post.

He underlined that security officers should be given wider authority in Aceh to restore peace and order in the province, as it is also against human rights to let people live in fear.

Teuku Djohan was buried on Friday afternoon with full military honors. Apart from relatives and close friends also present were Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh and senior Golkar executive and former sports minister Mahadi Sinambela.

Among the numerous flower bouquets received was one from President Abdurrahman Wahid. (dja)