Matori opts for soldiers to quell violence in Aceh

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense Matori Abdul Djalil said on Monday he had opted for the deployment of soldiers rather than police officers to rid the strife-torn province of Aceh of the campaign of violence launched by separatist rebels.

"It is better to confront armed members of the movement in Aceh with soldiers, not police officers," Matori said at a hearing with Commission I for defense affairs at the House of Representatives building here.

If public security is disrupted, he said, it would be handled by police officers, he said, adding, though, that, "if the disorder threatened state sovereignty, it would be the responsibility of soldiers."

The minister, however, said that a political decision must be made by the President in consultation with legislators before soldiers are deployed.

He further said that their deployment was urgently required because violence in Aceh had escalated. "With the ceaseless violence, including the killing of Aceh scholars and the burning of school buildings, the condition is frightening," he said.

At the hearing, presided over by legislator Ibrahim Ambong, Matori said that the government still prefers to conduct series of talks with the separatist movement members, rather than launching repressive action in Aceh.

Other various issues discussed at the hearing included the defense budget, terrorism and military cooperation.

Concerning the rise in the defense budget by 18.3 percent in the 2002 draft budget, Matori said the increase should not necessarily mean that Indonesia would boost its military muscle and become a new power. "The budget rise is mainly aimed at improving the soldiers' welfare. Their daily meal allowance, for example, will be raised from Rp 10,000 (US$1.04) to Rp 15,000," said Matori.

The minister confirmed that the larger budget would also be used to finance "the security operation" in conflict-ridden areas, such as Ambon, Irian Jaya and Aceh.

More cash, he said, is also needed for maintaining military equipment. "Most of our military equipment is already between 20 and 40 years old," he said.

Touching on calls for the dissolution of military command at the provincial level and military district areas, Matori fully backed that idea. "Principally, we agree with the idea. But, we all understand that it can't be carried out simultaneously," he said.

Meanwhile, director general of defense strategy at the Ministry of Defense Maj. Gen. Sudradjat said Indonesia would send military personnel in exchange for intelligence needed to combat global terrorism, should the U.S. resume military cooperation.

"As terrorism is a borderless activity, we need to cooperate with other countries to counter it," he said. (08)