Local community members against imposition of martial law in Aceh

Edith Hartanto and Yogita Tahilramani, The Jakarta Post, Lhokseumawe, Aceh

Local community members have joined the Aceh administration in opposing the central government's plan to impose a state of emergency in the restive province to stop decades of separatist fighting.

The people living in the Aceh capital of Banda Aceh and remote areas in the jungle-clad Pidie, Bireun and North Aceh regencies are demanding a peaceful settlement to the conflict.

"We are already living in an emergency situation here. living in fear all the time. What more of an emergency could it be for Aceh?" said 50-year-old Imam Azra, a vendor from Bireun.

Acehnese people were just too tired to deal with the unrest, he said.

"Here people die everyday. A chicken is worth more than a human life. Clashes and incidents happen almost everyday all across Aceh. Those who die end up as statistics," he said.

Imam, like any other Acehnese, has been longing for peace and security in the province that has been torn apart by decades of bloodshed since the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) began its quest for independence in the 1970s.

He wished that he could open a bigger shop and that his village would have better communication access.

"There is no phone here in Jeunib. It's ironic because Jakarta (central government) makes such a big fuss of the state of emergency in Aceh. All we want is the realization of government's promises to build a prosperous Aceh. When will it ever come true?"

Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh, the province's legislative council, Muslim clerics and non-governmental organization activists have turned down the central government's plan for the imposition of a civil emergency or martial law.

Puteh said 90 percent of the Acehnese people were opposed to any planned state of emergency.

But the government, through Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, said the central government would pursue its plan to impose a state of emergency in Aceh, arguing that the Acehnese people demanded that GAM be dealt with firmly.

The government would decide early in August whether to impose a state of emergency or not.

Opposition also came from Amir, a pedicap driver, who said: "I am afraid if a civil emergency or martial law is forcibly declared. We will not be able to work as usual because I have read in newspapers that an emergency means a region is in danger."

Nyak Minak, a 52-year old vegetable trader in Banda Aceh, also expressed similar views, saying she wanted separatist fighting to cease and urged the government to open stalled peace talks.

"The important thing to me is that there is no more violence in Aceh, so I can sell my wares in peace and can support and sustain my family," she said.

Talking about the government's promises to Acehnese apparently would only revive old wounds.

One Acehnese quickly referred to former president B.J. Habibie who in 1999 said he would make prosperity and security schemes for Aceh, including building train tracks, schools and infrastructure.

The government had also promised compensation for victims of 10 years of the military operation to crush rebels in Aceh, known as DOM that ended in 1998.

"Until now thousands of DOM victims and their families are living in poor conditions. What about the compensation, the education or allowances that were promised to them? They are living with deep vengeance towards the security forces," said 24- year-old Misdawan, a student in Banda Aceh.

"Well, since when has the government kept its promises to Aceh? Now they're busy planning a state of emergency here. Why can't the government understand that what Aceh needs is social welfare and strong infrastructure. We do not need military oppression anymore. We have already had it for 10 years."

The head of Muhammadiyah's Aceh branch, Imam Suja', said that first president Sukarno, the father of President Megawati Soekarnoputri, failed to keep his promise to establish Aceh as a prosperous province, in exchange for all the monies and physical help that the Acehnese had contributed to Indonesia attaining independence.

"What is the guarantee that Megawati will not dupe the Acehnese like her predecessors, including Gus Dur (Abdurrahman Wahid), (B.J.) Habibie and Soeharto?"