Mega delays Aceh trip, sets agenda
JAKARTA (JP): President Megawati Soekarnoputri officially postponed on Friday her visit to Aceh planned for Sunday and instructed aides to hasten the judicial process for past rights abuses in the province along with a meaningful dialog in an attempt to resolve the conflict there.
The decision to delay the visit was announced after a four- hour limited Cabinet meeting here, which was held to specifically discuss developments in Aceh.
No clear reason for the postponement was given, with Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh citing "technical reasons" after the meeting.
Abdullah said the tentative schedule would allow for the President to hold a two-day visit beginning next Wednesday or Saturday.
"We need time to further discuss the preparations and determine areas she can visit," he explained.
Growing unrest in Aceh has continued unabated.
Various conciliatory attempts made by the government, including the recent introduction of a special autonomy law, have failed to suppress growing separatist moves in the province.
Megawati has said she would allow Acehnese to implement the Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam special autonomy law, describing it as the widest leeway that the Indonesian government can afford.
Independence remains out of the question.
Meanwhile, the substance of Megawati's visit to Aceh has attracted widespread skepticism, as no clear political agenda had been put forward other than convening a dialog with local figures.
But Friday's Cabinet meeting -- also attended by Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda, Minister of Defense Matori Abdul Djalil, Indonesian Military Commander Adm. Widodo A.S. and National Police Chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro -- seemed to add more "meat" to Megawati's agenda for Aceh as she outlined a platform for the government to pursue.
The strategy complies with what many observers have urged: resolving past abuses, engaging in a comprehensive dialog and socioeconomic development in the province through the special autonomy law.
The President on Friday instructed Attorney General M.A. Rachman to speed up the judicial process on past rights abuses committed in the province.
The previous government prioritized five cases, all allegedly involving military personnel.
One case -- the shooting to death of 65 people at a Muslim boarding school run by Teuku Bantaqiah in Blan Meurandeh, Beutong, in July 1999 -- has already been prosecuted, with several soldiers sentenced or dismissed. Progress on another case, the killing of 39 civilians at Simpang KKA in May 1999, remains stalled.
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono referred after the meeting to "three remaining major cases in Aceh" which needed to be resolved.
The three cases are believed to be the rape of a woman in Pidie in 1996; disappearances, acts of torture and kidnappings occurring between 1997 and 1998 related to the use of a rumah geudong (slaughter house); and the killing of seven people in East Aceh in 1999.
Susilo also said ministers had been ordered to engage in an effective dialog over the next two months, incorporating all parties in Aceh with a clear timetable and discernible goals.
"The President explicitly mentioned that in the next two months there should be a more effective and efficient dialog with all parties in Aceh," Susilo remarked.
Nevertheless, Susilo warned that there would be no relaxation of "law enforcement actions".
"So we'll continue our legal efforts to extinguish separatist movements in Aceh and at the same time hold an all-inclusive dialog with all parties in the province to find a real solution," Susilo said.
He further claimed that the President signaled her support for reviewing Presidential Instruction No.4/2001 on the restoration of law and order in Aceh, which has been severely criticized by many parties. (dja)