Malaysia supports Indonesian unity, warns Aceh rebels

Malaysia supports Indonesian unity, warns Aceh rebels

JAKARTA (JP): Visiting Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir
Mohamad affirmed on Thursday his country's support for
Indonesia's unity, and warned Aceh separatist rebels not to use
his country as a base for their resistance.

Speaking at a joint news conference with President Abdurrahman
Wahid at the latter's official residence, Merdeka Palace, the
prime minister emphasized that the situation in Aceh was entirely
Indonesia's internal affair.

"We will not let anybody use Malaysia as a base for
activities which are not good for neighboring countries such as
Indonesia," Mahathir said.

Without elaborating, he said he had personally conveyed the
message to Acehnese religious leaders during a recent meeting.

"Our stance is that Aceh should be a part of Indonesia. If
they want to have more autonomy that is up to them to negotiate,
but our stance is that Aceh should remain part of Indonesia,"
Mahathir said.

Thousands of Acehnese, including alleged rebels, reside in
Malaysia, which is only 250 kilometers across the Malacca Straits
from the restive province.

Mahathir, who arrived here on Thursday for a two-day working
visit, said his government was prepared to help Indonesia end the
decades of conflict.

The prime minister, who described the situation in Aceh as
less intense at the moment, said his country had participated in
trying to resolve the problems in Indonesia's westernmost
province.

"Malaysia is quite willing to give some help if we are asked
to, and in fact we have met some of the religious leaders of
Aceh," the prime minister remarked.

Abdurrahman greeted Mahathir upon his arrival at Halim
Perdanakusuma Airport on Thursday morning. His visit was an
exchange to Abdurrahman's visit to Kuala Lumpur last November.
The President has asked the prime minister in particular to help
his government overcome the country's economic crisis.

Mahathir's entourage included his wife Siti Hasmah, Minister
of Foreign Affairs Hamid Jaafar, Minister of International Trade
and Industry Rafidah Aziz, Minister of Finance Daim Zainudin and
Minister of Primary Industry Lim Keng Yeik. About 150 businessmen
also accompanied his visit.

Later in the day, the President confirmed his plan to close
the five-day Aceh Society Congress in Medan on March 31.

"The President said he would come to Medan to close the
congress, which at least 600 Aceh activists will attend,"
congress chairman Nur Nikmat said after meeting the President.

Nur, however, said he would not be able to fulfill the
President's wish for providing the presence of Free Aceh Movement
(GAM) commander Tengku Abdullah Syafi'ie.

"We do not see any indication that Abdullah is willing to come
to the congress," Nur said.

In another related development, more bodies, believed to be
the latest victims of conflicts between separatist rebels and
Indonesian security forces, were found in North, Central and West
Aceh, residents and police said on Thursday.

Locals stumbled upon a body bound to a pillar of the Teupin
Gapeuh bridge in Tanah Pasir subdistrict, North Aceh, on
Wednesday, North Aceh Police chief Lt. Col. Syafei Aksal said.
(prb/50/edt)