Mega delays Aceh trip, sets agenda
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)