TNI sends 3 battalion units, cavalry to Aceh
TNI sends 3 battalion units, cavalry to Aceh
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Military (TNI) has dispatched
three battalions to guard the gas field installation of US-based
ExxonMobil Oil Indonesian Inc. (EMOI) in Aceh as part of an
effort to let the company resume operations, Coordinating
Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono said on Saturday.
Susilo also revealed a plan to deploy an Army cavalry unit to
guard security posts, gas installation sites and clusters of
state gas company PT Arun NGL Co.
"We have deployed three battalions to guard ExxonMobil and
will send one cavalry unit to secure PT Arun.
"This is the greatest security protection ever given by the
government to such similar (oil and gas field) installations,"
Susilo said after attending the installment of new Forestry
Minister Marzuki Usman at the Merdeka Palace.
ExxonMobil decided last week to halt its oil and gas
production in Aceh over security concerns. The decision has
forced other major companies in the area, such as PT Arun NGL
Co., to follow suit.
"Although the Bontang Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plant in
East Kalimantan could meet the demand for LNG, we want the Arun
gas field to resume operation to meet both local and foreign
demands," Susilo said.
He suggested that the TNI headquarters and the Ministry of
Energy and Mineral Resources publicly announce the true situation
in the case of ExxonMobil.
"The announcement is needed to help clarify reports that
security personnel have not taken necessary measures to provide
security protection," Susilo said as quoted by Satunet.com.
The minister dismissed speculation that ExxonMobil's decision
to halt its operation was made due to "foreign (the United
States) pressure."
"It's such a premature conclusion to say that (pressure) is
there. Currently, I will focus on providing security in the
area," Susilo said.
He said that he has received reports that the company's
employees who live outside the company compound had also asked
for security protection in the face of intimidation by Free Aceh
Movement (GAM) separatist rebels.
Separately, TNI spokesman Rear Marshall Graito Usodo denied
that TNI has failed to protect such vital installation sites in
the troubled province.
"The problem is that GAM has threatened the company's workers
and their families," Graito said as quoted by Antara as saying.
Meanwhile in Aceh, the Student Executive Boards (BEMs) of
various universities rejected the central government's policy to
impose a limited military operation in the province, saying that
it would only bring suffering to the local people.
"The (military) operation will not solve Aceh's problems,
either. History has shown us that the military could not settle
conflicts in the troubled province," spokesman of Aceh's BEMs
Alfian said as quoted by Antara.
He said the planned military operation was in conflict with
the peaceful efforts of dialog and negotiation, which GAM and the
government have been seeking.
"The progress made by the warring groups, in such steps as the
imposition of the Humanitarian Pause, the one-month moratorium
and the establishment of a joint defense pact, is praiseworthy,"
he said.
"If the government insists on imposing the military operation,
we (Acehnese students) will take to the streets to protest
against this policy," Alfian warned. (02)