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)