NU asks Acehnese to support Indonesia's special autonomy

NU asks Acehnese to support Indonesia's special autonomy

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Noted Muslim leader Hasyim Muzadi called on the Acehnese to
support a special autonomy status, saying it would fulfill their
long-standing demand for welfare.

Hasyim, who chairs the country's largest Muslim organization,
the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), said special autonomy would be the
answer to the problems of economic and social injustice that the
Acehnese had been fighting against, sparking some to wage a
rebellion under the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).

"Being independent does not address Aceh's problems. People in
Aceh will never know whether a party which is pushing for an
independent state in Aceh manages to secure welfare for them,"
Hasyim told reporters on Saturday.

The 2001 Law on special autonomy for Aceh provides the locals
with a lion's share of the 70 percent of oil and gas revenues.
The law also regulates not only self-government but autonomy in
religious, legal and fiscal affairs.

Thousands of civilians have been killed in the armed conflict
between government troops and GAM rebels since the secessionist
movement began in 1976.

Hasyim was commenting on the cancellation of the Joint Council
meeting between Jakarta and GAM representatives, after GAM
demanded a two-day delay to the talks from its original schedule
of April 25.

Jakarta has ordered security measures in Aceh to be
intensified while preparing for the deployment of reinforcement
troops to the restive province. The Indonesian Military (TNI) has
insisted that a military operation, should it take place, would
be conducted without sacrificing civilian lives.

Hasyim has also voiced his opposition to the use of military
force.

"The government has to realize that a military approach is
inappropriate as the fate of the province depends on its people,
which has nothing to do with GAM. Why don't we try other
approaches, such as religious and social ones?" Hasyim said.

He urged GAM to be realistic in facing the fact that no
country in the world allows a secessionist movement.

Earlier, Akbar Tandjung, the speaker of the House of
Representatives, and Juwono Sudarsono, a military expert and
former minister of defense, recommended on Saturday that the use
of military force be the last resort in resolving Aceh's
problems.

Speaking on the sidelines of a seminar on nationalism held by
the Golkar Party, Akbar said the House supported the government's
plan to continue a peace dialog with Aceh rebels but it had to be
conducted without sacrificing the sovereignty of the state.

"We (the House) insist that the government addresses problems
in Aceh peacefully. But if the unitary state is put on the line,
I think we have no other option except for taking stern action
against GAM," said Akbar, who also chairs Golkar.

He said that most political parties at the House would throw
their weight behind the government's plan to maintain security in
the conflict-torn province.

Juwono shared Akbar's opinion, but stressed that the
government had to ensure that the military operation was prepared
to prevent civilian casualties.

The government will decide its further steps in Aceh during a
Cabinet meeting on Monday. The measures include a possible
military operation to quell the separatist movement there and
efforts to save the Cessation of Hostilities deal it signed with
GAM in December last year.