RI attacks donors over Aceh War

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.