Security operation in Aceh 'adjusted'

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government lifted on Wednesday the one-year civil emergency in tsunami-devastated Aceh through a presidential regulation, which also spells out the heavy presence of military troops there.

Regulation No. 38/2005, therefore, provides a legal umbrella for a military offensive to crush the decades-long separatist movement in the natural resource-rich province.

"There will be an adjustment to the number of military troops in Aceh in accordance with developments in the field," Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi said

The Indonesian Military (TNI) has deployed over 35,000 troops in Aceh since martial law was imposed in the province in May 2003.

Critics have questioned the government's refusal to withdraw the troops despite its decision to lift the civil emergency status.

According to the regulation, which was signed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono earlier in the day, the operation to restore security is part of a five-pronged "coordinated program", which also includes economic recovery. humanitarian relief, law enforcement and empowerment of local administrations.

"We need the coordinated program to help reach the set goals," Sudi said.

The program emulates the integrated operation initiated by the previous government of president Megawati Soekarnoputri when it ended martial law and imposed a civil emergency exactly one year ago.

The government started a massive reconstruction program in Aceh and Nias following the Dec. 26 tsunami. Over 129,000 were killed in the disaster.

Chief security minister Widodo Adi Sucipto has said the lifting of the civil emergency was aimed at facilitating the reconstruction of the province. The presence of military, he said, would ensure the reconstruction process worked.

Indonesia is preparing for the fourth round of informal talks with Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatist group in Helsinki, scheduled to start on May 26.