Thu, 22 Jun 2000

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)