Muslims want autonomy, Islamic law for Aceh

Muslims want autonomy, Islamic law for Aceh

JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of Muslim activists held two separate
rallies here on Wednesday demanding autonomy and Islamic law for
Aceh, and the withdrawal of troops from the restive province.

Chanting "Allahu Akbar" (God is Great), some 500 members of
the United Islamic Front Caring for Aceh demonstrated outside the
Ministry of Home Affairs in Central Jakarta. The second group,
some 50 members of the Joint Action for Aceh, held a rally in
front of the Ministry of Defense and Security, also in Central
Jakarta.

Yet another demonstration against military operation was held
on Wednesday in Yogyakarta's Gadjah Mada University, involving
some 200 students and youths. "Fire Wiranto!" the students said
in one of their banners, in reference to Indonesian Military
(TNI) Chief Gen. Wiranto.

Separately, the Islamic Justice Party (PK) held a media
conference at its headquarters in South Jakarta to call for a
peaceful solution in Aceh, to allow the populace the opportunity
to heal the wounds they suffered under the previous regime. The
party also called on the government to respect the Acehnese's
desire for autonomy on religious affairs and education, and for
the opportunity to assert their cultural characteristics.

"We are calling on the government and the administration in
Aceh to take immediate action to reduce the conflicts; namely by
accommodating the aspirations of the Acehnese and holding
intensive dialogs... with the aim of reaching a comprehensive
solution to the crisis," the party said in a statement signed by
its president Nurmahmudi Ismail.

The party also called on the Indonesian Military and the
National Police to exercise self-restraint in their operations in
Aceh, and to be aware of how their activities could violate the
rights of the Acehnese.

All this occurred in Jakarta as reports came in that suspected
separatist rebels ambushed and killed an Army sergeant in North
Aceh. Local military chief Col. Suyatno was quoted by AP as
saying Sgt. Jamaluddin was shot on Tuesday by a gunman as he rode
his motorcycle through a village in the area.

The shooting occurred as leaflets appeared throughout the
province urging Acehnese soldiers and policemen to desert
security forces.

"If you do not leave the military and police, your lives will
be in danger," read one of the leaflets, signed by the separatist
Free Aceh Movement (GAM).

In Jakarta, the protesters at the home affairs ministry called
for regional autonomy and the implementation of Islamic law in
Aceh, as well as the withdrawal of Crack Riot Troops from the
province.

The military recently announced a six-month police operation
involving some 7,000 police officers, auxiliaries and troops, to
crush separatist rebels in Aceh, where more than 200 people have
died in a recent wave of violence.

Calls have been growing for the military to pull out a 3,100-
strong special riot force from the province, but Wiranto has
ruled out a withdrawal.

Outside the home affairs ministry, activist Jimmy Muhammad
said: "We want the sharia in Aceh now. In other areas later, if
possible." Sharia is Muslim law.

In front of the Ministry of Defense and Security, protesters
urged Wiranto to meet their demand for a military pullout or
resign if he was unable to do so. They waved banners and posters,
some of which read: "When will Aceh be free of its miseries,"
"Stop the cruelty in the Land of Rencong" and "Bring to court the
human rights violators in Aceh," Antara news agency reported.
Rencong in a traditional Acehnese dagger.

Separately, Republika daily quoted on Tuesday Abdullah
Syafi'i, the commander of the Free Aceh Movement in Pidie
regency, as saying his group would not hold talks with the
government.

"Aceh is our motherland, taken by force by Indonesia. What is
the point of a dialog" with the government, Abdullah said.

The government has said it would not negotiate with the
separatist rebels, who it called criminals. The government,
however, has promised to grant the rebels general amnesty, with
the approval of Wiranto, if they surrendered.

Justice minister Muladi has also said the possibility is open
for talks with exiled GAM leader Hasan Tiro, on condition that he
agree to talk as an Acehnese community leader, not as a
separatist leader.

Meanwhile in Batam, the National Commission on Human Rights is
urging President B.J. Habibie to find a political settlement for
the Aceh question. Commission member Bambang Soeharto was quoted
by Antara as saying on Tuesday it was important the government
give the Aceh administration the full authority to settle its
problems.

"We have urged President Habibie to politically settle the
Aceh case, because the military approach has not been able to
settle the case," he said.

He said dialogs involving all parties, including separatist
rebels, should be held. "To invite the rebels to a dialog would
not mean the government recognize the existence of the separatist
movement." (23/anr/swe)