Megawati's military approach on Aceh criticized
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.