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.