House supports Aceh prosecutor over graft cases
Kurniawan Hari and Nani Farida, Jakarta/Banda Aceh
House of Representatives members have thrown their weight behind the Aceh Prosecutor's Office tackling several corruption cases allegedly involving administration officials, including Governor Abdullah Puteh.
"In principle, prosecution should be conducted by the prosecutor's office. Besides, the martial law administration is occupied with its duties in controlling the integrated operation in the province," chairman of House Commission I for security affairs Ibrahim Ambong told the press after a meeting with Aceh Police chief Insp. Gen. Bachrumsyah Kasman and deputy head of the Aceh Prosecutor's Office Teuku Zakaria in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Zakaria said his office had not received the dossiers of the graft cases from the martial law administration.
Commission deputy chairman Franklin W. Kayhatu said that under Law No. 23/1959 on states of emergency, the Aceh martial law administrator had the authority to prosecute the cases.
"The Aceh Prosecutor's Office, however, should take over its role because the martial law administration is busy with the integrated operation," Franklin said, referring to the military operation against Acehnese rebels.
According to the legislators, the Aceh Prosecutor's Office has will have 44 criminal cases to try. Among them are the purchase of a Russian helicopter, a used printing machine and the procurement of cars for members of the local legislature.
The purchase price of a Russian Mi-2 PLC Rostove Mill helicopter was reportedly marked up to Rp 12.6 billion from the original price of Rp 6.1 billion in 2002. The police in Aceh are still investigating the alleged misappropriation of Rp 30 billion (US$3.4 million) earmarked for electricity generators.
Later in the day, ad interim coordinating minister for political and security affairs Hari Sabarno and Aceh monitoring team Mar'ie Muhammad held a closed-door meeting with House deputy speaker Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno and some legislators.
It was concluded at the meeting that the government would decide on the status of martial law in Aceh after a visit by the House team to the province scheduled for May 6.
Separately in Aceh, Free Aceh Movement (GAM) commander in Peurelak, East Aceh, Ishak Daud said the rebel group would release 100 hostages, including RCTI cameraman Fery Santoro on May 13. Fery has been held hostage for almost 10 months. GAM agreed to release the hostages after consultation with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
"Initially, the ICRC hopes the release will take place on May 8, which coincides with ICRC's anniversary. But I think that would be too rushed," Ishak added.
He demanded that the Indonesian Military (TNI) cease its military operations for two days, with the first day being used by GAM to assemble the hostages and the second being used to release them.
"We ask it (TNI) not to breach the agreement so that the release will proceed smoothly," Ishak said.
The release will reportedly take place in the vicinity of agricultural company PT Bumi Flora in Idi Rayeuk, East Aceh.
Military operation spokesman Lt. Col. CAJ Asep Sapari said he had no idea about the release. "That's rubbish. How can we trust Ishak Daud?" he said.
Fery, along with RCTI reporter Sori Ersa Siregar, driver Rachmatsyah and two women named Farida and Soraya were captured by GAM on June 29 last year. Rachmatsyah, Farida and Soraya escaped, but Ersa Siregar was killed during a gunfight in December last year.