President Susilo rules out foreign role in Aceh

President Susilo rules out foreign role in Aceh

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono ruled out on Thursday a
foreign role in Aceh, while also offering amnesty to rebels who
gave up their armed struggle.

Susilo said the problems in Aceh would be solved without any
foreign intervention and that the National Commission on Human
Rights (Komnas HAM) would be actively involved in observing the
state of civil emergency there.

"The government wants to settle the problem domestically, in
the spirit of brotherhood, so that the results we all hope for
will be achieved," said Susilo, who left for Chile on Thursday to
attend the 10th Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

Promising to resolve the Aceh issue fairly and with dignity,
Susilo issued on Thursday a presidential regulation officially
extending the state of civil emergency in Aceh for six months.

"The state of civil emergency has been officially extended and
the government invites Komnas HAM to conduct their work in Aceh,
in accordance with the law," the President said.

Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels have been fighting for
independence in Aceh since 1976. The province was placed under
martial law on May 19, 2003, with the status being lowered to a
state of civil emergency one year later.

Presidential Regulation No. 2/2004 says that the state of
civil emergency in Aceh will be extended by six months at the
most, with an evaluation every month to determine whether the
civil emergency can be lifted.

Under the civil emergency status, local authorities have the
power to search houses, censor the press and impose curfews and
other restrictions.

Susilo, who took his oath of office on Oct. 20, said the
government appreciated expressions of support from foreign
agencies and countries, but Aceh was an internal problem of
Indonesia.

Previous negotiations between the government and rebel leaders
were facilitated by the Geneva-based Henry Dunant Centre, which
led to a short-lived peace agreement in 2002.

Earlier this month, the son of Libyan leader Moammar Kadhafi
offered his country's help in resolving the conflict. Many
guerrilla leaders in Aceh are believed to have trained in Libya.

Susilo called on GAM members on Thursday to stop their
rebellion, promising amnesty for rebels who put down their
weapons.

"The government calls on all (rebel) leaders to stop their
actions and accept the special autonomy policy to develop Aceh.

"The country will give them pardons and provide post-conflict
reconstruction assistance as part of our efforts to end the
conflict in Aceh," Susilo said.

A rebel spokesman, Abdullah Zaini, dismissed the offer and
called on Susilo's government to return to the negotiating table.

"Nothing can change our struggle for independence," Zaini told
Associated Press in a phone interview from Sweden.

"Aceh is our country and it must be returned to the Acehnese
people. We hope the new leader in Indonesia will reopen the door
for negotiations and bring peace to Aceh," he said.

Box

President Susilo extended the state of civil emergency in Aceh by
issuing a presidential regulation instead of a presidential
decree, as was the case under previous presidents.

The Cabinet deputy secretary for law and legislation, Lambock
V. Nahattands, said the decision to issue a presidential
regulation was based on Law No. 10/2004 on government
regulations.

The law recognizes two rulings -- one deals with regulations
and the other with assignments or appointments. Rulings dealing
with regulations are called presidential regulations, while
rulings dealing with appointments -- such as the appointment of
state officials -- are called presidential decrees.

The law also places the Constitution as the highest law in the
country, followed by laws or government regulations in lieu of
law, government regulations and presidential regulations.