New province for Aceh sought

New province for Aceh sought

JAKARTA: Amid the worsening situation in the province of Aceh, councillors from five regencies there met with the top security minister on Thursday afternoon to discuss the possible establishment of a new province.

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Friday that the meeting with the councillors took place at his office.

The five regencies represented by the councillors are Southeast Aceh, Blangkejareun, Singkil, Central Aceh and Tamiang.

Basrah Hakim, who led the councillors, told Susilo that the five regencies intended to form a new pw province called Leuser Antara as they had not been "infiltrated" yet by the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM).

Susilo told the councillors that the government would consider their demand and would discuss it further with the House of Representatives.

It is not clear, however, who initiated the meeting between the councillors and Susilo. --JP