New government told to monitor Aceh, Papua

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Acting coordinating minister for political and security affairs Hari Sabarno advised the new government to put law enforcement and rights promotion, particularly in conflict-torn areas, at the top of its priority list.

Briefing the press after the last Cabinet meeting of political and security affairs on Tuesday, Hari said that it was important for the new government to closely monitor the provinces of Aceh and Papua, as well as several other conflict areas in the country.

"The new government's coordinating minister for political and security affairs must put law enforcement and rights promotion on its agenda," said Hari, referring to the administration of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Jusuf Kalla, who will take their oaths of office on Wednesday.

The meeting was attended by, among others, Attorney General MA Rachman, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirajuda, Minister of Health Achmad Sujudi, Minister of Social Affairs Bachtiar Chamsyah and State Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Hendropriyono.

National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar and Indonesian Military Commander Gen. Endriartono Sutarto were absent from the meeting.

Susilo, who resigned from his post as coordinating minister for political and security affairs in March to contest the election, will announce the new Cabinet members on Wednesday evening.

Reports of the abuse of prisoners and alleged rebels are frequent in Aceh and Papua, where government troops are fighting against armed rebels seeking independence.

"It is the duty of the next coordinating minister for political and security affairs as he or she must handle politics, legal and security affairs," said Hari.

He urged his successor to monitor the activities of the Free Papua Movement, which has been fighting for independence since the 1960s.

"Apart from embarking on international diplomacy abroad, they have started increasing physical contact. The new minister must pay serious attention to this issue," said Hari, who was recently ranked as a full general by outgoing President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

The meeting also discussed the on-going state of civil emergency in Aceh, which is set to end on Nov. 19.

Hari said the current Aceh central civil emergency head could not issue any recommendation for the new government as Aceh's status could only be evaluated every six months, or in November.

"The future of Aceh depends on the new government. It will have the responsibility of making that decision," he said.

According to Hari, the new government could either extend the state of civil emergency in the whole province, make only some parts of the province subject to it, or lower it to civil administration status.

Martial law was imposed in May 2003, to root out the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), but, in May, the government changed it to a state of civil emergency.

However, its decision to assign Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam Governor Abdullah Puteh to lead the administration sparked controversy, due to his alleged involvement in graft cases.

Puteh has been named a suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for his involvement in an alleged markup in the purchase of a chopper by his administration, which cost the state some Rp 4 billion.

Recently, a number of non-governmental organizations called on the government to end the state of civil emergency in Aceh for the benefit of the Acehnese, who have suffered the most in the government's war against GAM.