President Megawati visits forces in isolated Aceh

President Megawati visits forces in isolated Aceh

Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post/Banda Aceh

After more than one year of the military operations that started
in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam in May 2003, President Megawati
Soekarnoputri for the first time on Thursday visited soldiers and
police in an isolated area of the war-torn province.

During the 15-minute visit to Alue Gintung village in Aceh
Besar regency, Megawati expressed appreciation to the
reinforcement troops deployed to the province, and promised to
pay more attention to their welfare.

"I have been planning to see all of you here. I am grateful
that I finally have the chance to meet our troops as they carry
out the noble duty of defending the country's territorial
integrity," she said.

The President further promised to improve the welfare of
military and police personnel, and ordered that none of them
should be required to serve in conflict zones for longer than 12
months.

"I have asked that none of our soldiers should have to stay in
conflict areas more than one year. As a mother and as the
President, I would ask you to take good care of your health and
safety as your families are waiting for you at home," she
remarked.

Thursday's visit to Aceh was the second for Megawati since she
placed the province under martial law on May 19, 2003, for a
period of one year. It was her fourth visit to the province since
she was elected President in 2001.

Since last May, Aceh has been administered by the civil
emergency authorities. However, the military operation has
continued against Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels, who have been
fighting for independence since 1976.

The military offensive was launched after a peace deal between
the government and GAM leaders broke down in 2003.

"You were sent here because the negotiations for peace between
the government and GAM failed. GAM refuses to acknowledge that
Aceh is part of Indonesia," Megawati told the troops during the
meeting in the isolated area of Alue Gintung.

The village, which is surrounded by tropical forest, used to
be a GAM strongholds.

During the visit, the President was tightly guarded by police
and military personnel, who had been on high alert for two days
prior to her arrival.

She was accompanied by Aceh civil emergency administrator,
Insp. Gen. Bachrumsyah Kasman, Aceh military commander Maj. Gen.
Endang Suwarya, Minister of Culture and Tourism I Gede Ardhika,
National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar and Indonesian Military
chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto.

Upon her arrival by helicopter, she was greeted by some 1,000
soldiers and police officers, who all tried to shake hands with
her.

After the visit, she flew back to Banda Aceh to open the
Acehnese Cultural Festival before flying back to Jakarta.

The one-week festival features artistic performances from 21
regencies across the province.

Megawati has become more open and communicative with the
public since she started campaigning for her first full five-year
term. She is due to go up against front-runner Gen. (ret) Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono, her former chief security minister, in the
presidential election runoff on Sept. 20.