President to impose Islamic law in Aceh
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid will declare the imposition of Islamic law for Aceh when he visits the restive province on Dec. 15, Aceh's new governor Abdullah Puteh says.
Puteh gave assurances, however, that Islamic law would not be applied to non-Muslims in the predominantly Muslim province, also known as the "Terrace of Mecca".
"The ruling is effective only for Muslims. We guarantee (it does not affect) those of other beliefs," Puteh told journalists after a meeting with the President at the Merdeka Palace on Monday.
He said that during the one-day visit, Gus Dur, as the President is also known, is slated to hold talks with local religious leaders and participate in prayer services.
Puteh said the trip would serve as "medicine" for the Acehnese who are now suffering from various problems.
A presidential spokesman, Wimar Witoelar, said that the Aceh visit would be made on Abdurrahman's return to Jakarta from Bangkok, where he is scheduled to receive an honorary doctorate from the ASEAN Institute of Technology.
"The President will be in Bangkok for 18 hours, on his return home he will stop off in Aceh," Wimar explained.
Puteh said that the President will witness a ceremony to mark the handover of government funds worth Rp 100 billion (US$10.6 million) for the Aceh economic recovery program.
The governor also said that his administration has followed up on Law No. 4/1999 on special status for Aceh with three regional regulations on customs, education and Islamic law in the province.
"The three regulations have been publicized across the province," Puteh, a former Golkar legislator, said.
On security matters, the governor played down the continuing violence, saying order had been maintained in the province.
Violence marked Monday's celebration of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatist rebels' anniversary in North Aceh, in which an Indonesian Army soldier was killed and another injured.
Chief Pvt. Suwarno was killed in an ambush involving GAM members in the district of Nisam in North Aceh, while another soldier from the local military district was injured, Capt. Abdi Darmawan of the police subprecinct confirmed.
Eyewitnesses said Suwarno and his group were conducting searches in the area when a group of GAM members intercepted them.
In Pidie regency, a 20-year-old civilian identified as Tommy, was reportedly killed by Indonesian soldiers, who were conducting a sweeping operation in the village of Melayu Garot.
Still in Pidie, a teenager was electrocuted when he was ordered by security personnel to lower a GAM flag that was hoisted on an electricity pole. The unidentified boy was rushed to a nearby hospital, but the extent of his injuries was not reported.
Human rights
Separately, Attorney General Marzuki Darusman said that the delay in taking legal action against human rights violators in Aceh, especially the abuses that occurred during the so-called military operations (DOM) period, was one of the main obstacles to finding a solution for the restive province.
"The slow actions taken in upholding the law and human rights in the province have strengthened the Acehnese dissatisfaction with Jakarta. That is why we are expediting the trial process," he told journalists at his office.
He said that prosecutors are now working on the killing of Tengku Bantaqiah and his Islamic boarding school students, which involved several high-ranking military officers. The most recent joint military and civilian trial in the case only convicted lower ranks.
Marzuki further said that the government would start a campaign to uphold the law in Aceh simultaneously with developments in the economic field under the relief package following the recent floods.
"We have come up with this plan during several cabinet meetings and the promotion of law and human rights will also be carried out by the military personnel there," he added.(02/50/bby)