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)