Security on the alert for Habibie's visit

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Military troops stepped up security measures on the eve of President B.J. Habibie's planned arrival here as thousands of students staged protests on Thursday.

Security personnel blockaded major streets in the city center, increased security at Iskandar Muda Airport and cleared the Baiturrahman Mosque, where Habibie is scheduled to attend a Friday prayer.

About 2,000 students rallied at the provincial legislature to demand a referendum in the province. They threatened to disrupt Habibie's meeting with locals at the Baiturrahman Mosque if the President fails to come up with concrete ideas to solve problems in Aceh.

"We insist that a referendum is the fairest and most just way to gauge people's aspirations here. It will solve problems we have been suffering from for years," said Roys Pahlevi, who represented students from 17 local universities.

Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung said in Jakarta that Habibie planned to announce a message to the restive province during his one-day visit and hinted he may apologize for past abuses.

In a statement read by Roys, the students also rejected a proposal by province leaders to revive the military command, saying it would justify the Armed Forces' (ABRI) security approach to quell proindependence movements here.

ABRI lifted Aceh's status as a military operation zone last year, which fueled demands for independence.

The students chanted heroic verses from the Perang Sabil (religious wars), which according to the students were composed shortly before the Acehnese declared a war against the Dutch in the 19th century.

"Let's fight our Prophet's enemies," they sang. Some of the students shed tears.

They chanted holy verses from the Shalawat Nabi (Praises to Prophet Muhammad) as a riot police truck passed the legislature compound. The rally passed without incident and was observed by 10 policemen.

As of Thursday evening, some 500 students were camped in the legislature compound, saying they would march to the Baiturrahman Mosque early Friday.

Another rally was staged by dozens of students grouped in the Student Forum in Support of Referendum in Aceh in Medan, North Sumatra, on Wednesday.

"Aceh needs a referendum, not Habibie to visit", "Aceh is not a recreation site for Habibie", read two of their banners.

In Lhoksemauwe, Aceh military commander Col. Johny Wahab expressed guarded optimism on Thursday that the Armed Forces would capture separatist movement leader Ahmad Kandang following the arrest of Sulaiman, who claimed to organize loyalists of rebel figure Hasan Tiro.

"Ahmad Kandang must be captured sooner or later. We believe he's still in North Aceh," Johny said.

A local reporter said that almost one battalion of troops had been deployed to capture Ahmad. A battalion comprises around 1,000 personnel.

In Jakarta, the body of Lt. Col. Edianto was buried in a military funeral at Kalibata Heroes cemetery in South Jakarta on Thursday. Marine Corps Commander Maj. Gen. Suharto presided over the ceremony.

Edianto, was abducted in December last year and killed by Sulaiman's group, had his military ranking posthumously promoted by one grade. (prb/21)