House to ask govt to slightly alter martial law in Aceh
House to ask govt to slightly alter martial law in Aceh
Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta
The House of Representatives (DPR) is likely to recommend the
government lower martial law in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam to a
state of civil emergency, given improving security and public
order in the province.
The lifting of martial law, however, would not necessarily
mean the withdrawal of troops from the resource-rich province.
Nearly 40,000 troops have been deployed to the province since
the inception of martial law on May 19 last year to crush the
Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatist group, which has been waging
guerrilla warfare there since 1976.
"The troops should be maintained in some areas regarded as
under GAM influence in an attempt to improve the security
condition there," Effendi Choirie, deputy chairman of the House's
Commission I for defense and political affairs, said after an
internal meeting here on Wednesday.
Separately, House Speaker Akbar Tandjung opined that the
martial law status should be lowered to a state of civil
emergency soon.
"We don't want to see the endless implementation of martial
law in Aceh," Akbar said after a meeting with O.C. Kaligis, the
lawyer of Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh, who met him in connection
with his client's implication in a graft case.
Effendi said that in a bid to get first-hand information on
the progress of the integrated operation in Aceh, the commission
had summoned martial law administrator in Aceh Maj. Gen. Endang
Suwarya for a hearing on Thursday.
Endang, however, is unlikely to turn up because he has to
attend a limited security meeting at the office of the
coordinating minister for political and security affairs on the
same day.
The government imposed martial law on Aceh on May 19 last year
for six months but later extended it for another six months.
President Megawati Soekarnoputri has indicated that the status
will be lifted when it expires next month.
Despite its earlier promise, the military failed to prevent
civilian and noncombatant casualties. Sori Ersa Siregar, an RCTI
journalist, was shot dead by military troops while being held
hostage by GAM last December.
Fery Santoro, an RCTI cameraman is still under the captivity
of GAM.
Interim coordinating minister for political and security
affairs Hari Sabarno said on Tuesday the government might end the
martial law status.
The government, however, would continue the integrated
operation, which consists of a humanitarian operation, law
enforcement, bureaucracy empowerment, and security restoration.
The minister said the government had summoned the Aceh martial
law administrator for a meeting on the matter on Thursday.
The outcome of the meeting would immediately be forwarded to
President Megawati.
Hari said the government considered the integrated operation
in Aceh a success, as it had returned social and political life
in the region to normal.
Hari added that whatever decision was taken by the President
regarding the martial law status, the government would continue
the military operation because local people hoped the already
conducive situation would be maintained.
Besides, many separatist group leaders are still on the run,
although they no longer dare to confront the police or military
openly, Hari added.