Law must be enforced in Aceh, Megawati says

Law must be enforced in Aceh, Megawati says

Nani Farida and Ibnu Mat Noor, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh

Despite the decreasing violence, President Megawati Soekarnoputri
stressed the importance of law enforcement as the preliminary
requirement to implement the cessation of hostilities agreement,
especially during the one-month transitional period.

She said all law violations, including abductions and murders,
must be tackled under the Criminal Code.

The President made the remarks during talks with Acehnese
officials, religious leaders and legislators at the Dutch-
architecture hall near the official residence of the Aceh
governor in Banda Aceh.

Megawati and a number of cabinet ministers were here on a
visit to enjoy the recovering situation in the war-torn province
following the signing of the cessation of hostilities agreement
between Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement in Geneva on Dec. 9.

The President said that while building mutual confidence
between the two sides, both the police and the military must take
strict measures against all sides, both civilian and armed
personnel, violating the law and disturbing security and order.

"All violence disrupting public order must be tackled as
crimes and must be processed in accordance with the Criminal
Code," she said.

Megawati who spent her night at the official governor's
residence, expressed optimism that the Aceh problem would be
resolved comprehensively within two years should all sides show a
strong commitment to complying with the peace accord.

The President said she had ordered top social, security and
economic ministers -- Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Dorodjatun
Kuntjoro-Jakti and Jusuf Kalla -- and several other ministers to
stay in the city for awhile to plan the priorities that should be
given to security restoration and social rehabilitation in the
province, both in the short and long term.

Responding to the President's remarks, National Police Chief
Da'i Bachtiar said that while building mutual trust between
security authorities and GAM, the police would investigate a
total of 26 crimes, mostly abduction and murder cases, in
accordance with Indonesian law.

He conceded the police would investigate in conjunction with
the planned joint security council (JSC) as stipulated by the
peace agreement.

Da'i also said the one-month transitional period was a golden
chance for both sides to heal all injuries caused by hostilities
during the conflict.

Aceh Police chief Insp. Gen. Manggabarani said he would
investigate the 26 cases thoroughly.

He said the peace accord would be ineffective and all sides
would think it easy to exert violence should law violations not
be brought to justice.

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono concurred and said nobody was immune
from the law.

He said all major violations of human rights in the past would
be brought to court. "A number of servicemen found guilty in the
Teungku Bantaqiah case have been jailed, while the court is still
trying two other rights abuse cases."

He reiterated that the government would stick to the four main
points it had designed to resolve the Aceh issue.

"The four points, namely peace-keeping and confidence-building
steps, humanitarian aid and rebuilding social infrastructure,
political solution through the planned All-Inclusive Dialogue and
economic reconstruction, should be used as measures to evaluate
all progress achieved in the future," he said.

Asked about the peace accord and autonomy, Susilo said the
cessation of hostilities agreement did not nullify Law No. 18 on
special autonomy and the law in the province.

"With the peace pact, there will be no local elections
separate from general elections and there will be no local
political parties. Regent and gubernatorial elections will be
conducted as we did it in the past," he said.

GAM said recently under the peace accord, the government and
GAM would hold local elections in 2004 to elect Aceh leaders to
form a democratic government and it would set up a political
party to seek power in the democratic government.