New government told to monitor Aceh, Papua

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.