~Presidential Decree No. 28/2003

~Presidential Decree No. 28/2003
declaring a state of emergency and martial law for Aceh

President of the Republic of Indonesia

Considering:
a. A series of peace initiatives by the government, including
the implementation of special autonomy law for Aceh, an
integrated development approach as well as dialogs, including
those carried out overseas, did not stop the intention and
actions of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) to separate from the
Unitary State of Indonesia (NKRI).
b. In such a situation, and with ever-increasing armed
activities, which led to terrorism carried out by GAM, not only
destroyed the order and peace among the people, disrupted the
government machinery and disrupted development programs, but also
increased the misery of the Aceh people in general.
c. The situation, which could endanger the entity of NKRI, cannot
be ignored for so long, and this needs to be resolved through
integrated measures so that the life of the people and of the
local administrations can be restored.
d. In accordance with the spirit of the 1945 Constitution, which
must be carried out by the President to protect the nation and
the land, and in accordance with the authority held by the
President based on the law on state of emergency and considering
the views of the leaders of the House of Representatives, House
Commission I and Commission II, and after taking into account the
situation and also the stand of GAM, which has not shown any
change toward improvement, it is necessary to declare a state of
emergency, with the level of martial law for all Aceh territory.

Considering
1. The 1945 Constitution, Article 4 paragraph 1, Article 10 and
Article 12.
2. Law No. 23/1959 on the State of Emergency
3. Law No. 2/2002 on the National Police

Declares:

A Presidential Decree on a state of emergency, with the status of
martial law for Aceh province.

Article 1: All territory of Aceh province is declared under the
state of emergency, with the status of martial law.
Article 2:

The highest authority of the martial law as stated in Article
1 lies with the President.

In implementing the martial law, the President is assisted by
the board of executives in charge of day-to-day operations,
headed by the coordinating minister for political and security
affairs.
Article 3:

The authority for martial law in Aceh province is held by the
commander of the Iskandar Muda Military Command as the local
military ruler.

In implementing martial law at the local level, the commander
of the Iskandar Muda Military Command is assisted by (1) the Aceh
governor, 2. the Aceh Police chief and (3) the chief of the Aceh
Prosecutor's Office.
Article 4: The state of emergency for Aceh applies all rulings as
stipulated in Law No. 23/1959 on state of emergency.
Article 5: All costs arising from the implementation of this
presidential decree will be born by the state budget and the Aceh
administration budget.
Article 6: This presidential decree comes into affect starting at
midnight western Indonesian time, May 19, 2003, for a period of
five months and can be extended by means of a further
presidential decree.

Jakarta, May 18, 2003
President, the Republic of Indonesia
Megawati Soekarnoputri