Megawati dismisses speculation on military operation in Aceh
Megawati dismisses speculation on military operation in Aceh
Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Aceh
President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Sunday dismissed speculation
that the Indonesian Military (TNI) would launch an immediate
military operation in Aceh should peace talks fail to settle the
Aceh problem.
The President disclosed that what the government had prepared
was a contingency plan rather than a military operation. But she
refused to give any details of the plan.
"It is not like what the newspapers have reported," President
Megawati said during her meeting with Indonesians in Bucharest,
Romania, on Saturday night local time.
She added that the government would go ahead with a meeting
with representatives of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and the
peace mediator, the Henry Dunant Centre (HDC), scheduled for
April 25 in Tokyo.
The President's statement came just days after House of
Representatives (DPR) leaders suggested that a military operation
should only be a last resort.
During the meeting, the President was accompanied by Minister
of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda and TNI chief Gen. Endriartono
Sutarto, Antara reported.
Hassan said that despite the sporadic clashes between GAM
rebels and TNI and police personnel, the President had no plans
to cut short her trip.
The latest incident took place in North Aceh at 10.00 p.m. on
Saturday when combat troops opened fire on a group of people who
were watching a local entertainment event.
The random shooting killed a pregnant woman, Ainul Mardiah,
20, and injured a number of other people.
Local military spokesman Lt. Col. Firdaus Komarno said he had
not received any information about the incident.
Earlier in the day, an Indonesian soldier was stabbed to death
at a cattle market in Jeumpa district, Bireuen regency.
As representatives of the government, GAM, and HDC are
scheduled to meet in Tokyo, community leaders in Aceh called for
a greater role for civilians in solving the Aceh problem.
Tarmizi, an activist with the Aceh People's Forum, suggested
that the upcoming meeting should discuss the role of civilians.
"So far, any attempts to involve Acehnese civilians in the
peace process is considered a provocation," he said.
Therefore, he regretted the police's arrest of Muhammad Nazar,
chairman of the Aceh Referendum Information Center (SIRA).
Religious leader Imam Suja' suggested that the meeting in
Tokyo could revise the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (COHA)
as long as it did not change its substance.
According to Suja', the most important thing for the Acehnese
was that both sides committed themselves to solving the problems
of Aceh peacefully.