Islamic law in Aceh imposed

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Aceh or Nanggroe Aceh Darusallam administration has officially put the special autonomy law and syariah (Islamic law) into effect.

The implementation of the special autonomy law in the troubled province would be followed with the formulation of Qanun (bylaws) on how the law is to be enacted.

Secretary of the provincial administration Tanthawi Ishak told the press on Tuesday that the year 2002 could become a starting point for the Acehnese to move forward with autonomy.

He said that his office was formulating the bylaws which were expected to be debated by the provincial legislative council in February.

Teungku Sofyan Hamzah, an imam at the grand Baiturrahman Mosque, expressed hopes that its implementation would reduce tensions in the province.

"Let us build the region for the sake of people's welfare in the future," he was quoted by Antara as saying.

Asked about feelings of anxiety by some non-Muslims in Aceh following the implementation of the Islamic law, he said that the minority should not worry. "The administration will use national law for them."

On Wednesday, the province's legislative council had to delay the hearing on the formulation of the bylaws, because most legislators flew to Jakarta to meet Vice President Hamzah Haz.

It was a second delay after the council failed to discuss five of 24 bylaws on Dec. 2 of last year, speaker of the Legislative Council Zaulius Usman said on Wednesday.

"The bylaws that were supposed to be discussed today were the strategic plan, regional development, the regional development program, financial balancing between the province and districts, and on natural resources."

Meanwhile in Jakarta, the central government would likely maintain its power to control the troubled region by insisting on its plan to revive a military command there, despite the special autonomy law.

Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh argued on Wednesday that thousands of police and military troops currently stationed in Aceh to guard the province had failed to maximize their roles due to the absence of a military command in Aceh.

Speaking to reporters after meeting with the Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the Minister's office, Abdullah said that the reestablishment of a military command had nothing to do with security matters, but was merely "to shorten the range of command".

He declined to reveal when the plan would materialize.

Asked whether the local administration would continue dialog with all elements in Aceh, including the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), Abdullah said: "We will continue dialog with GAM, but things have a limit. The dialog must also be held in the frame of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, and GAM must respect the special autonomy law, as well as any deals reached in the dialogs."

Early in the day, Abdullah, along with 11 regents, 4 mayors, 13 provincial councillors, and chairmen of all factions of the council, met Vice President Hamzah Haz to report the latest situation in the province following the implementation of the special autonomy law.

None of them would comment on the reestablishment of the military command in Aceh.

Meanwhile, Minister of Defense Matori Abdul Djalil told reporters at the same venue that the government would fully support the revival of the military command. "The Acehnese realize how worthwhile the military's presence is in such a restive province."