Martial law to continue ahead of polls

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government claimed on Tuesday that in the ninth month of the military operation, the situation in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam was relatively safe and stable ahead of the general election, however, it had no plan to lift martial law.

Coordinating Minister for Security and Political Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said here on Tuesday that the situation in the country's westernmost province was under control as the number of villages that were formerly rebel strongholds had decreased from 1,093 to 169.

He said the legislative and presidential elections would run smoothly and the presence of thousands of security personnel tasked to quell the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) would not be hindrance for the Acehnese to exercise their basic rights to vote in the election.

"We (the government) are glad that security has gradually been restored in Aceh as the integrated operation enters the ninth month.

"But, we do not want to lose the momentum. The government will only lift martial law that was imposed on May 19, 2003, if the time is deemed right," Susilo told a press conference after a coordinating meeting on political and security affairs at his office. And we will not withdraw our troops from the province," he said.

Also attending the coordinating meeting were, among others, Aceh martial law administrator Maj. Gen. Endang Suwarya, home affairs minister Hari Sabarno, Army Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Djoko Santoso, social affairs minister Bachtiar Chamsyah and foreign minister Hassan Wirayudha.

Endang said after the meeting that the military had gained control in almost 90 percent of 1,093 areas which were formerly rebel strongholds. Many of the rebels have been killed or arrested while others have fled to forest areas.

So far, military authorities claimed to have killed 1,300 rebels and arrested around 2,000 others.

Susilo insisted that the government had no plan to withdraw any military personnel although the number of rebels in the field is only around 1,700.

The Acehnese people have expressed pessimism about the general elections because besides having no confidence in the government, they feel they cannot cast their votes freely under present conditions. Even, certain political parties have enhanced cooperation with the martial law administration by mobilizing militia groups to drive the people to election booths during the election period.

The military operation has been extended for another six months in efforts to maintain security in the province during the elections.

Experts and community leaders in Aceh have proposed that the government demilitarize regions that are relatively safe to help ensure a democratic process in the legislative and presidential elections that would start on April 5.

Endang said it was difficult to arrest GAM leaders because they have been moving from one area to another one in jungles in the province.

He added that the military would continue to hunt the remaining rebels and cut their logistical supplies to weaken their movement.

With regard the civilians currently held hostage by the rebels, Endang said that the military had freed 10 people, including RCTI driver Rachmatsyah early in December and two wives of the Air Force officers, Cut Safrida and Cut Soraya, last week.

RCTI journalist Sori Ersa Siregar, nevertheless, was killed on Dec. 29 in what the military claimed to be crossfire between troops and GAM fighters.

The private TV station's cameraman Fery Santoro, is still being held somewhere in East Aceh and his fate remains unclear.

"Based on our data, GAM is currently holding around 68 civilians, and around 380 others are still missing," Endang said. He, nevertheless, failed to clarify whether he considered the missing people alive or dead.