Matori opts for soldiers to quell violence in Aceh
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)