Joint monitoring team to start work in Aceh

Joint monitoring team to start work in Aceh

Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam

A joint monitoring team will begin immediately to inspect
humanitarian projects carried out by the martial law
administrator and Aceh provincial government since the
implementation of martial law in the troubled province.

"The team will observe the use of central government money
during martial law, as well as economic and humanitarian problems
in the province," said chairman of the joint team Mar'ie Muhammad
after a meeting with government officials in Banda Aceh.

The meeting was also attended by martial law administrator in
Aceh Maj. Gen. Endang Suwarya and Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh.

The joint team has 25 members, including Indonesian Red Cross
personnel and central government officials.

Mar'ie said that the team would work for three weeks, starting
on Friday.

He added that the team would not primarily be looking for
administrative mistakes or evidence of corruption committed by
either the Aceh government or martial law administrator.

"Instead, we shall highlight things that need to be improved
in the implementation of martial law. However, if we see that
there is corruption, we shall ask the auditor to investigate," he
said.

He also said that the team would not inspect security and law
enforcement in the province, as they were the responsibility of
the martial law administrator and police force.

The central government channeled last year some Rp 1.7
trillion in funds to the Aceh provincial government and martial
law administrator. The sum was handed over after the central
government declared martial law in Aceh in May 19 last year.

The funds were intended for military and humanitarian
operations in Aceh.

Mar'ie said that poverty was a tough challenge facing the
government, as 40 percent of a total 4 million Aceh residents
were living in poverty.

The outcome of the monitoring will be presented to
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono.