Security concerns cast doubt over Gus Dur's Aceh visit
JAKARTA (JP): While President Abdurrahman Wahid's plan to visit Australia next month is going full steam ahead, a much shorter trip to the restive province of Aceh has become increasingly in doubt.
Foreign Minister Alwi Shihab said on Thursday the decision to go ahead with the trip to Aceh, scheduled for Tuesday, would depend on the assessment of the local situation from the province's governor.
Presidential spokesman Wimar Witoelar also said there were ongoing consultations between presidential aides and the local administration in Aceh to decide on whether the trip should still take place.
However, palace sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, have revealed Abdurrahman's trip to the volatile province might be called off for security reasons.
Despite talks between the government and separatists from the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), the situation has deteriorated to the extent that the government has decided to launch a limited military operation in the province.
Earlier this week helicopters carrying the entourage of Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro were shot at during a visit to the ExxonMobil sites in Aceh which have suspended operations due to the security situation.
No one was hurt in the attack.
Minister of Defense Mahfud M.D. said on Thursday that the government was still "conducting intelligence operations there".
"We will not make a public announcement on when the military operation will begin for tactical and strategic reasons," Mahfud told journalists.
Mahfud also revealed that the government would consider an amnesty for GAM members who surrender.
Elsewhere preparations were underway.
In Surabaya, East Java Military Command spokesman Lt. Col. Djoko Agus said that as many as 1,300 personnel have been sent to Aceh.
"About 650 personnel of Infantry Battalion 516, 390 personnel from Infantry Battalion 507 and the rest, from Battalions 511 and 512 have been sent," he said.
"They have been trained at the Army's Special Force (Kopassus) training ground in Batu Jajar, West Java," Djoko said.
Indonesian Navy commander Adm. Indroko Sastrowiryono on Thursday also confirmed that marines were being prepared to be deployed in Aceh.
"We are waiting for instructions from the National Military Headquarters to send them," he said without revealing the number of marines to be deployed.
"All Navy personnel are ready to defend the unitary state wherever and whenever," Indroko asserted after inaugurating a Marine Trooper Force and Independent Marine Brigade in Karangpilang, East Java.
Meanwhile in Aceh, violence wreaked havoc in the newly established Security Zones in North Aceh.
In North Aceh, the Syamtalira Arun Police subprecint came under mortar attack at around 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
However, spokesman of Cinta Meunasah II operation Adj. Sr. Comr. Harunantyo told The Jakarta Post by phone from Banda Aceh that the subprecint was not damaged, but a mortar hit a small mosque near the post.
"The incident was proof that GAM does not stick to the agreement on the security zones. This is very tiring. We tried to be cooperative but if they continue to attack we will have no choice but to quell them," he said.
Meanwhile, the Atjeh-Sumatra National Liberation Front accused the Indonesian government of being insincere in implementing the peace zones agreed by the government and GAM.
"On the first day, there are already reports of violations committed by Indonesian security forces. We understand this is a lure to attract our soldiers to retaliate so that they can break the truce and initiate what they call a Measured and Limited Military Operation," the Liberation Front said in a statement signed by spokesperson Abu Isnandar. (02/sur/nur/edt/byg)