Insecurity threatens next year's elections in Aceh, Todung says
Insecurity threatens next year's elections in Aceh, Todung says
Nani Farida and Teuku Agam Muzakkir, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh/Lhokseumawe
In a bid to ensure that the Acehnese can exercise their right to
vote in the upcoming elections, rights campaigner Todung Mulya
Lubis has called for a delay in the elections pending the lifting
of martial law there.
Todung argued that the ongoing military offensive would not be
conducive for the Acehnese to express their political
aspirations, a situation that "will only trigger questions on
whether or not the elections in Aceh are legitimate."
"I don't think the Acehnese people will be given freedom of
expression if the government insists on maintaining martial law
here.
"And once the public questions the legitimacy of the elections
here, I'm afraid that such situation will only benefit the
secessionist movement," Todung told The Jakarta Post.
Todung, along with several members of non-governmental
organizations concerned with fair elections in the country,
joined Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on his visit to Aceh on Tuesday to get
first hand information about the situation in the province ahead
of the 2004 general elections.
During the visit, they held closed-door meetings with several
local officials, including Aceh Martial Law Administrator Maj.
Gen. Endang Suwarya.
The government imposed martial law across the territory on May
19 to allow its troops to launch offensive operations to quash
the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM).
President Megawati Soekarnoputri decided in November to extend
martial law for another six months, arguing that GAM was still
strong and could pose security threats before, during and after
the elections.
KPU has scheduled the legislative election for April 5, 2004,
and has planned to organize two-phase presidential elections in
July and September. A total of 24 political parties have been
declared eligible for the elections.
The Indonesian Military (TNI) had earlier predicted that the
movement had about 5,000 fighters scattering in five regencies --
North, East and West Aceh, Bireuen and Pidie -- categorized as
rebel strongholds.
With violence taking place every day in Aceh, TNI has claimed
that nearly 1,000 GAM rebels have been killed, while about 2,000
others have been arrested or had surrendered to the Unitary
Republic of Indonesia.
Rights activists and political observers have criticized the
government's decision to extend the military offensive in Aceh,
fearing that a massive deployment of government soldiers would
affect the democratic climate across the territory.
A study carried out by the Center for Electoral Reform (Cetro)
in Aceh showed that more than 50 percent of respondents said that
martial law would not allow freedom of expression for the
Acehnese people.
The study involving 48 respondents from 16 regions in the
province.
Susilo concurred, saying that next year's elections in Aceh
might face problems.
"Expecting that elections in Aceh will be the same as those
held in other territories is impossible. The government is
currently trying to seek a solution to the problems," Susilo
said.
"We (the government) wish that the elections here could be
held in a peaceful atmosphere and that the Acehnese feel free to
vote. If necessary, the government will allow foreign monitoring
teams to visit Aceh in the upcoming elections," Susilo said.