Ramli installed as Aceh governor amid protests

Ramli installed as Aceh governor amid protests

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Ramli Ridwan was swore in on Wednesday
as the acting Aceh governor replacing Syamsuddin Mahmud in a
ceremony presided over by Minister of Home Affairs Surjadi
Soedirdja.

"The acting governor has been given between three and six
months to prepare for the election of a new governor. And I hope
everyone here will support him in his efforts conduct a fair and
democratic gubernatorial election," Surjadi said after the
inauguration.

Ramli, a senior staff member at the home affairs ministry, was
named a replacement for Syamsuddin, who was sent packing
following a vote of no-confidence from the provincial legislature
on April 29. Syamsuddin's second five-year term was supposed to
end in 2003.

Syamsuddin, 65, a Belgian-trained economist and professor at
Syah Kuala University, has rejected an offer by President
Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid to become deputy chief of the
National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), saying he was
too old and "the job carries political connotations". The post's
age limit is 60, while Syamsuddin is 65.

Surjadi regretted Syamsuddin's refusal.

"Actually his (Syamsuddin) expertise in monetary subjects is
badly needed. That is why President Gus Dur used his prerogative
to offer him the deputy Bappenas chief post," Surjadi said.

The ceremony at Anjong Mon Mata hall in the gubernatorial
office began at about 10 a.m. under tight security. Around 1,000
police personnel and three armored vehicles were deployed around
the compound.

Outside the office complex on Jl. Tengku Daud Beureweh,
hundreds of students continued a two-day old rally demanding the
dispersion of council.

The students are determined to occupy the council building,
the walls of which have been scrawled with graffiti.

Violence in the riot-stricken province has claimed more than
400 lives this year.

Since the signing of a peace accord between the Free Aceh
Movement (GAM) and the Indonesian government on May 12 in Geneva
at least 40 people have died.

Separately in Sawang, North Aceh, the mutilated body of
Fahruddin Musa, 52, was found by locals on wasteland in Lhok
Gajah, North Aceh Police chief Lt. Col. Syafei Aksal said on
Wednesday. "The man was reported missing on June 13 from his
house in Tepin Siron village in Gandapura," he said.

Five men have also been abducted by gunmen in North Aceh over
the past couple of days, Syafei added.

In Jakarta, at least 500 people from the Aceh Referendum
Information Center (SIRA) staged a protest at the House of
Representatives building on Wednesday, demanding the resignation
of legislators representing Aceh.

The protesters dragged Aceh legislators Julius Usman and
Karimun Usman -- both from the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) -- from their hearing rooms.

Legislator Erwin Pardede was beaten and kicked by the
protesters when trying to defend Karimun. They both refused to
unpin their House insignia.

Julius and Karimun were asked to take off their jackets and
forced to sit down to hear the protesters' demands. A large
banner reading "Referendum" was unfurled in the House compound.

The legislators refused to answer when the protesters asked
them if they would resign if the House rejected an independence
referendum for Aceh.

The protesters' behavior was regretted by chairman of the
House Commission II for legal and domestic affairs Amin Aryoso.

"It's too much and should be classified as anarchy. They
shouldn't come here if they don't believe in the House," Amin
said.

Chairman of the House Commission I for defense, foreign and
political affairs Yasril Ananta Burhanuddin condemned the
protesters.

"Where is the security for the legislators?," Yasril said in a
hearing with defense minister Juwono Sudarsono. (50/edt/jun)