Supreme Advisory Council approves government's Aceh action
JAKARTA (JP): Supreme Advisory Council (DPA) chairman Achmad Tirtosudiro said on Friday that the council had given its political approval and support to the government's policy on Aceh.
"National security has become of paramount importance. If the government can maintain a stabilized situation nationwide, I expect the political elite will stop condemning the government," Achmad told reporters after meeting with top security authorities at his office.
Attending the meeting were Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Minister of Defense Mahfud M.D., Minister of Home Affairs and Regional Autonomy Surjadi Soedirdja, Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Adm. Widodo AS, National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro and the TNI's Strategic Intelligence Body's (Bais) Vice Marshall Ian Santoso Perdanakusuma.
The government has promoted six policies as a solution to the strife in Aceh -- political, economic, social, legal, security and an information approach.
The government also recently announced that it would crack down on separatist rebels in the province by launching a limited military operation.
After public outcry, government officials then toned down their talk and identified the operation with a more docile tag as a "limited security operation" in which police would still be at the forefront.
Suprin
Meanwhile in Aceh, police said on Friday they were stepping up an investigation into the death of Suprin Sulaiman, 37, who was murdered along with Tengku Al-Kamal, 45, and driver Amiruddin in South Aceh on Thursday afternoon. They were found dead in their car.
Suprin was a legal advisor of Aceh's Coalition NGOs for Human Rights.
"The three were found dead on the road linking Jl. Negara Tapak Tuan to Blang Pidie in South Aceh regency. Their bodies all bore gunshot wounds," Cinta Meunasah II Operation spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Sad Harunantyo said.
The three had left the South Aceh Police station after giving a statement.
The officer further explained that Tengku Al-Kamal was a witness in a rape case involving five women who suggested that the rape was perpetrated by members of the police force.
Harunantyo claimed that the women had changed their testimony several times and were probably separatist rebels who were lying about the case.
The murder of Suprin has raised condemnation at home and abroad such as from the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI), Aceh's Coalition NGOs for Human Rights and the Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy (ELSAM).
The United States Embassy in Jakarta also said in a statement on Friday that America deeply regretted the killing and urged the government "to investigate the deaths and punish those responsible".
"Suprin Sulaiman's organization, the Coalition for Human Rights NGOs, was a USAID grantee.
"We express our most sincere condolences to the families of all of them and we urge all individuals on all sides to commit themselves to finding a peaceful solution to the conflicts in Aceh," the embassy said. (edt/02/50/51/)