RI attacks donors over Aceh War

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Lhokseumawe

Indonesia is bristling over what it sees as meddling remarks by the European Union, Japan and the United States over the government's decision to extend martial law in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam. The three parties' joint statement had also called on transparency in the implementation of martial law.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday stated that their statement was "regrettable and leads to interference of domestic affairs for a number of reasons."

The above three parties had facilitated the government's talks with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in Tokyo, in a last ditch attempt to save the agreement signed by the two parties in Geneva in December 2002, with the mediation of the Henry Dunant Centre.

Among the above mentioned reasons was, "The existence of the Tokyo conference co-chair is no longer there following the break down of the peace talks in May 2003. Therefore the Indonesian government cannot accept efforts to institutionalize something that in fact does not exist."

The EU, the U.S. and Japan had also initiated a post-war construction fund for Aceh.

Among other reasons for rejecting their remarks, the Ministry under Hassan Wirayuda said that their joint statement displayed poor understanding of the "integrated operation" in which the military operation was only one part of the policy for Aceh, apart from the humanitarian operation, law enforcement, empowerment of the local administration, and the newly added economic recovery program.

The decision to extend martial law from Nov. 19, the Ministry said, was based on thorough considerations, given the government's efforts in "restoring and preserving state sovereignty ... and restoring a sense of security" mainly among the local population.

The EU, Japan and the U.S. issued the joint statement Thursday, following Jakarta's decision to extend martial law in Aceh for the next six months. They had said that martial law should be conducted with minimum human suffering and that Jakarta should open international access to the operation of humanitarian affairs in the province. The martial law authority has denied access to humanitarian organizations.

Dismissing the need for foreign parties, the Ministry stressed that the government "has enough sources and enough self confidence to overcome the humanitarian situation in Aceh ...".

Jakarta decided to impose martial law since May 19 this year, after the peace talks between the government and GAM broke down.

The government said it decided to extend martial law, saying GAM forces remain significant and that the security situation should be maintained ahead of the 2004 election.

While groups of Acehnese have expressed support for the extension of martial law, other Acehnese have said they expected the government to focus more on the people, who have lost their relatives in the ongoing war.

Cut Ade Mutia, 30, a villager from Muara Dua in Lhokseumawe said she had hoped Jakarta would display more attention to the conditions of widows and orphans resulting from the military operation.

"Not all of their husbands and relatives who died were GAM members ... The government should focus on providing a normal life for (surviving relatives)," Mutia said.

However several other villagers from Sawang subdistrict have said they hoped the military operations could stop mysterious killings and intimidation against civilians, allegedly conducted by GAM rebels.

Mawardi Nur, 39, of Sawang, said that during the 1999 to 2002, GAM "committed terror" against the people.

Sawang, known as a GAM stronghold, is one of several subdistricts in Aceh headed by a military officer. The appointment of military officers as subdistrict heads was part of measures taken by the martial law authority given that many subdistrict heads had fled their jobs.

Human rights campaigner Munir of the Indonesia Human Rights Monitor (Impartial) has criticized legislators and civilian politicians for their failure to control the military in solving the Aceh issue.

Speaker of the House of Representatives Akbar Tandjung said that martial law in Aceh should end before the general elections scheduled for April 5 next year.

"The general elections must become an important factor to determine the (period of the) martial law," he said on Friday.