Problems in regions settled peacefully: Mega
Problems in regions settled peacefully: Mega
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Surabaya/Jambi
Outgoing President Megawati Soekarnoputri said on Tuesday her
government had endeavored to settle disputes in the regions
through peaceful means and dialog, which in some cases had lead
to the granting of special autonomy.
Megawati said that in a bid to ensure national unity, the
government had offered either special autonomy or an integrated
development program to some regions that wished to separate from
the republic.
"This is the utmost form of settlement. It must not go beyond
that," the President said in her speech while presiding over a
ceremony to mark the 59th anniversary of the TNI here.
The government under Megawati deployed combat troops to Aceh
and Papua to crush the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and the Free
Papua Movement (OPM) separatist rebels respectively.
Both provinces were granted special autonomy in 2000 and 2001
respectively in a move to ease tension in the natural resource-
rich provinces.
The status allows them to enjoy a bigger share of the revenue
than other provinces get from the central government.
Before and after Megawati took office in 2001, the government
had been involved in peace talks with GAM. The talks collapsed in
May 2003, prompting the government to impose martial law in Aceh.
The government downgraded the status to a state of civil
emergency in May 2004 after security conditions improved there.
"The downgrading to a state of civilian emergency implies that
there would be fewer additional emergency personnel who would
impinge on the rights of the people and there would be more
personnel available to improve the welfare of the people in that
region," she added.
Megawati also expressed optimism that the TNI would commit to
reform.
She said the TNI would be responsible for defending the
country's sovereignty and territorial integrity and for
maintaining the dignity and safety of the nation.
The National Police had taken over the task of maintaining
security and public order, enforce the law, protect, safeguard
and serve the community.
Regarding the recently endorsed TNI bill, Megawati said the
military's professionalism could be improved despite some
shortcomings in the bill.
In other cities, TNI's 59th anniversary was marked with
rallies.
In Surabaya, protesters renewed demands for the dissolution of
military offices in the regions, including the regional military
command in the province, the military district command in its
regencies, the military subdistrict command in its subdistricts.
They also urged the government to confiscate the wealth of
military generals and redistribute the assets to the people.
In Jambi, several student groups protested against the TNI
bill, claiming that it would revive militaristic approaches
practiced by the ironfisted New Order government.