Mega won't meet GAM members

JAKARTA (JP): President Megawati Soekarnoputri is unlikely to meet with members of the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) during her weekend visit to the restive province, says an aide.

"Ibu did not specifically mention the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) members. She just said the Acehnese from all walk of life," Pramono told The Jakarta Post when contacted after a press conference.

Pramono, a close aide of Megawati from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) earlier spoke in a press briefing after the party weekly meeting.

"The President wants so much to hear what the Acehnese have to say and to promote the current Special Autonomy Law of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam," Pramono Agung said in the press conference.

Megawati has pledged to rely on dialog to settle the separatism issue in the province but has warned that she will not tolerate secession.

In the conference Pramono said Megawati would leave on Saturday Sept. 8 and returned the next day, reversing what State Secretary/Cabinet Secretary Bambang Kesowo said on Monday that Megawati would make a one-day trip to Aceh on Saturday.

Pramono said Megawati would visit Banda Aceh on the first day and would spend the night in Medan.

"Because it is impossible to stay in Banda Aceh," he said.

On the following day she will go to Langsa and will hold another dialog with the people, Pramono said.

The visit will be Megawati's first to the province as president.

Maximum security

Police chief Gen. Suroyo Bimantoro said on Tuesday that maximum security had been arranged for the President's trip to the province, Antara reported.

"We guarantee the safety (of the President). We are working on maximizing security with the Indonesian Military," the general was quoted by Antara news agency as saying.

Gen. Bimantoro was speaking before a meeting of security officials and ministers to discuss preparations for the visit.

In Aceh, most members of Aceh's Provincial Legislative Council (DPRD) had fled the province following the mysterious killing of their colleague Zaini Sulaiman Ishaq on Sept. 1.

Moersyid Minosra, vice chairman of DPRD told Antara that the members had asked for a leave of absence to "visit their families outside Aceh".

Two other DPRD members, Ali Jauhari of PDI Perjuangan faction and Ghazali of the National Mandate Party faction, are still missing after being abducted by an unidentified group two months ago.

Those members known for their outspokenness opted to keep silent.

"I'd rather stay silent for the time being due to the uncertain situation," said a legislator who asked not to be named.

The DPRD building looked deserted with only a few legislators in small groups discussing the worsening security situation in the province.

Cease-fire

A member of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) here urged both the military and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) to hold a cease-fire.

"I demand that those parties who have weapons in their possession, namely the TNI-Polri and GAM, relinquish their arms to a third party in the shortest possible time," Ghazali Abbas Adan was quoted by Antara as saying.

Ghazali said, firearms were a catastrophe for the Acehnese and that thousands had lost their lives as a result of their use.

"Those who refuse to lay down their weapons are the very party who wants to prolong the suffering of the Acehnese," he said.

Ghazali said he categorically opposed a military solution for the province because realities indicated that the more troops were sent to the province the more civilians became victims of violence.

Ghazali dismissed government officials and legislators who supported a military solution as people who had lost their minds and who had not learned from history.

The military claimed that they have sent 3,000 troops to Aceh since April 2001.

Megawati has apologized for past policies in Aceh and has offered greater autonomy to the province.

MPR Speaker Amien Rais on Monday hailed Megawati's visit plan and suggested that she stay in the province for two or three days.

He said he believed that the separatist rebels would not cause any disturbance while the President was in the province.

"It would bring much joy to the Acehnese if the President could stay and even visit other areas besides Banda Aceh," he said. (dja/hbk)