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.