Mega tells Aceh to focus on autonomy

Mega tells Aceh to focus on autonomy

KUALA LUMPUR (JP): President Megawati Soekarnoputri urged the
Acehnese people on Tuesday to take full advantage of the special
autonomy status accorded to them under the new Nanggroe Aceh
Darussalam Law, but warned that rising separatist moves would be
promptly crushed.

During a discussion with the Indonesian community in the
Malaysian capital, the President pledged to give Acehnese the
widest possible freedom in implementing the special autonomy law.

"You'll have all the freedom to implement Nanggroe Aceh
Darussalam," Megawati said during her final stop on a nine-nation
tour of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

"I have already signed the special autonomy law, so please
make good use of it," Megawati remarked before returning home
later on Tuesday afternoon.

"But should it be distorted to support a separatist movement,
the government will initiate stern law enforcement measures in
the province," she warned.

Her remarks reflect the carrot and stick approach adopted by
the government in its management of the troubled province.

Many are cautiously hoping the newly introduced special
autonomy law, which provides for the implementation of Islamic
law and a greater share of revenue from natural resources
exploited in the province, can help sooth growing separatist
tendencies.

But Megawati, who is known for her staunch nationalistic
stance, has also affirmed that there will be no discussion on the
question of Aceh separating from the republic.

Past attempts to convene talks between the Indonesian
government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) have also failed to
stop the bloodletting.

The circle of violence has no boundaries with both GAM and
military forces sustaining casualties, while innocent civilians
also suffer.

The government's tough line toward the slightest sign of
independence remains unrelenting with the military continuing its
tour of duty to stamp out separatists in the province.

Less then a fortnight ago it was revealed that 20,000 troops
had been deployed to Aceh, while the Navy stationed five warships
in Aceh waters to help prevent weapons smuggling.

Despite the fragile security situation, State/Cabinet
Secretary Bambang Kesowo confirmed that Megawati will visit Aceh
on Sunday to meet with community leaders.

Military

The government's position on eliminating separatist rebels,
whom security officials say are responsible for almost daily
attacks on both provincial, military and economic facilities in
the province, is emphasized by the continuance of Presidential
Instruction No. 4/2001 on the restoration of law and order in
Aceh.

Acehnese figures and rights activists urged on Tuesday that
the Instruction be revoked, saying that it merely advocated the
use violence against the people.

Waisul Qarani Ali, a member of the Aceh provincial council,
said the Instruction had only amplified the violence over the
past four months.

"Most Acehnese are cynical of it due to the chain of violence
over the last four months," he told The Jakarta Post by telephone
on Tuesday.

Stopping short of accusing security officials of being behind
the recent wave of violence, particularly the killing of 31
civilians at a plantation in East Aceh by unknown gunmen, Waisul
remarked: "We do not believe the incidents are committed by
Acehnese rebels."

Meanwhile, police and military officials claim that GAM
separatists have been responsible.

He urged soldiers and police officers to refrain from treating
all Acehnese people as rebels.

National Commission of Human Rights member Albert Hasibuan
urged the government to revise the presidential instruction to
reduce rights abuses in the province.

"The Aceh problem cannot be solved unless past human rights
violations are investigated and more attention is given to social
and economic development in the province," he said in Jakarta.

But separately, House of Representatives Speaker Akbar
Tandjung remarked that there was little recourse for the
government in facing separatist rebels other than a repressive
approach.

"A military operation to quell the separatist movement will be
unavoidable if GAM continues its struggle for the province's
secession," he said.

Deputy House Speaker Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno also said the
House supports the plans to take tough measures against GAM if
they reject political negotiations and persist with violence.

"If a military operation is launched, good preparation is
needed to reduce civilian casualties to a minimum. But political
dialog must also go on with other sectors of the Acehnese
community," he said.(rms/bby/dja)