Legislators, analysts differ on Aceh issue

JAKARTA (JP): While a former minister has called for a cease- fire in the strife-torn province, most legislators and analysts do not see eye to eye on how to deal with problems in the restive province of Aceh.

Legislators prefer harsher measures against the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) while political observers opt for military withdrawal from Aceh.

Both sides were responding to President Megawati Soekarnoputri's call for an end to the military campaign launched by her predecessor during her visit to Aceh over the weekend.

A military campaign was launched under the government of former president Abdurrahman Wahid based on a presidential decree known as Inpres No. 4/2001.

Aceh leaders demanded that the government abandon the military approach during a closed-door meeting with President Megawati Soekarnoputri in Aceh over the weekend.

The 100-strong members, who were handpicked by the Governor of Aceh, Abdullah Puteh, also called on the revocation of the presidential decree.

Hasbalah M. Saad, former state minister of human rights affairs, said a cease-fire was a preliminary condition toward the negotiating table.

The respected Aceh figure urged the government to lobby GAM leaders to ensure a cease-fire.

Asked to comment on the demand to abandon the military campaign in Aceh, Hasballah said that such a statement had to be tested first.

The government, he said, had made big mistakes in the past.

Citing the nine years of military crackdowns in the province, he said there had been more casualties among civilians than the rebels.

"This mistake should be corrected by discussing the issues with the people of Aceh. Unfortunately, this has never happened," he said referring to the military campaign initiated by former president Soeharto's government, which began in 1989.

Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno said there should be a deadline for any talks held with GAM leaders.

"The date and length of the time frame will depend on the President," the retired general was quoted as saying in Bandung by Antaranews agency.

House Speaker Akbar Tandjung, however, was skeptical about a nonviolent approach.

"The government has taken an initiative to hold informal talks for years with the GAM but tension has remained because of GAM's recent violent attacks," he said.

Patrialis Akbar, a legislator of the National Mandate Party (PAN), said he was not opposed to a nonviolent approach.

"But the problem is whether or not the President's proposal is realistic. Talks with all sections of Aceh's community must be held but the military should take arms to force rebels to negotiate," he said.

Permadi, a member of House Commission I on defense, security and foreign affairs, said that the government should declare a state of civilian emergency to allow the security authorities to launch an effective operation to quell the separatist movement.

Separately, political analysts Syamsuddin Haris and Riza Sihbudi from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, said violence could be significantly reduced only by pulling the military and the police out of the region, as demanded by the Acehnese.

Syamsuddin said that a trial for those who had violated human rights in the past could be part of a solution to the conflict.

"Aceh has a very serious human rights problem, therefore solving this problem would give credit to Megawati's government," Syamsuddin told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

Fachry Ali of the Social and Business Ethics Development Institute (LPSEU), said two former presidents B.J. Habibie and Abdurrahman Wahid had also paid a visit to the province, but both of them had failed to make a breakthrough on how to solve the problem.

"Before Megawati visited Aceh, I warned that the visit would only become a boomerang for her government, if she did not make any concrete solution for Aceh's problems," he said.

Nonproductive

In a separate development, a senior GAM commander told the Post by phone on Sunday that Megawati's visit was nonproductive.

"It will only increase Acehnese's frustrations," Amri Abdul Wahab said.

Asked for proof, he said, one indication was that Megawati was booed when she spoke at Baiturrahman Mosque.

"We knew all along that those who turned up at the mosque had been mobilized by the military," Amri said.

A number of people who took part in Saturday's closed-door meeting with President Megawati at the Governor of Aceh's house refused to unveil the content of the meeting but were prepared to comment on Megawati's visit.

"The fact that the President is daring to come to this restive province is a commendable action," said Mustafa Abdullah, a legislator.

However, he said he was disappointed when the President looked emotional when she was interrupted in her speech by a youth.

"Interrupting someone who is making a speech is a normal thing in Aceh's democracy. If such a small thing disturbs the President, I am afraid Aceh's problems will never be solved," said Mustafa, who is also vice chairman of the United Development Party.

He urged the President to correct the implementation of 2001 Presidential Decree No. 4, as it only concentrated on the military.

"Too many villagers have lodged their grievances, telling us that their relatives had been arbitrarily arrested and beaten up without the proper legal process.

"They also said that they had later found the bodies of their relatives while others had disappeared forever," he said.

Muhammad Nasir, a side-street vendor, said he was disappointed because there was nothing substantial in Megawati's speech to solve Aceh's problem. (02/09/50/rms/hbk)