President to impose Islamic law in Aceh
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)