Security operation in Aceh 'adjusted'

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.