Megawati plans to visit restive Aceh in April
Megawati plans to visit restive Aceh in April
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
President Megawati Soekarnoputri is planning to visit conflict-
torn Aceh in April, her second after the government and the Free
Aceh Movement (GAM) signed a peace deal aimed at putting an end
to decades-long conflict in the province.
Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh said Monday that the visit would
take place in the second week of April to deliver some
humanitarian aid and hold a dialog with people in the west of the
province.
"This time, the President will not stay in the capital of
Banda Aceh, but other areas to meet the people," Puteh told
reporters after meeting Megawati at the Presidential Palace.
However, a source at the Palace said Monday that so far there
were no set dates for the visit due to President's busy schedule
including a planned visit to Eastern Europe starting April 17.
"There is no date yet and as far as I know, the President may
not be able to go to Aceh this month (April)," the source said.
Megawati visited Aceh last Dec. 17 and 18, one week after the
government and secessionist movement GAM signed a peace deal in
Switzerland on Dec. 19.
Under the agreement, both parties agreed to end hostilities
which started in 1976, when GAM fighters embarked on an armed
campaign for a separate state in the resource-rich province from
Indonesia.
Megawati has visited the country's westernmost province three
times since she took over the national leadership in July 2001.
Governor Puteh said Monday that around 30 percent of the
villages in eight strife-torn regencies could not be reached due
to poor security conditions. The eight regencies are Pidie,
Biereun, Lhoksemawe, North Aceh, East Aceh, Aceh Besar, West Aceh
and South Aceh.
"People there are being terrorized and are suffering from
extortion. Even I and other government officials cannot enter
those areas and if we force our way in it may provoke clashes
with the rebels," Puteh said.
"We cannot enter those villages mostly located in the
mountains, because the people are afraid to let us visit them,"
said Puteh, adding that extortion and terror were conducted by
GAM.