Megawati's military approach on Aceh criticized
Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Several party factions at the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) criticized on Saturday President Megawati Soekarnoputri's use of the military in Aceh, urging the president to prioritize dialog to settle the prolonged armed conflict.
The Islamic-based United Development Party (PPP), chaired by Vice President Hamzah Haz, urged the government to build security instead of fear in various conflict areas, especially in Aceh.
Aceh is a PPP stronghold.
"People need peace, not fear brought about by military operations," faction spokesman Arif Mudatsir Mandan said while reading his party's general view of the progress report of Megawati.
The president delivered a progress report to the Assembly on Thursday, the first day of the Assembly's Annual Session. She promised tougher action against separatists, including in Aceh, as part of efforts to end conflicts throughout the country.
Arif said his faction proposed that peace negotiations between the government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), which was earlier conducted in Switzerland, be moved to Indonesia.
"It's time to move the negotiations here," he said, citing the inefficiency of the meetings in Switzerland.
Other factions, including the Regional Representatives' faction (FUD), the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the Reform factions, also criticized Megawati's policy on Aceh.
The FUD, which has 60 legislators in the Assembly, suggested dialog to settle the problem in Aceh.
"We believe it (dialogue) could create a peaceful Aceh that is free from hatred," FUD spokesman Usman Sapta said at the plenary session.
The Reform faction, which consists of the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the Justice Party, said that only through dialogue and negotiations, and by taking into account cultural aspects, could the government settle the Aceh conflict.
"Dialogue, negotiations, and cultural and welfare approaches as well as upholding the law and justice principles should be prioritized," Reform faction spokesman Ahmad Farhan Hamid, who hails from Aceh, told the plenary session.
The PKB faction meanwhile urged the government to take an approach that could create self-confidence among the Acehnese and build trust in the government.
"The government has concentrated on the special autonomy issue, which is not the problem there," PKB spokeswoman Tari Siwi Utami said.
Thousands of people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the bloody conflict in the northern tip of Sumatra island as government forces try to crush the armed Acehnese separatists.