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.