TNI waits to be given authority to act in Aceh

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Military (TNI) has yet to be proactive in its efforts to restore security and order in the troubled Aceh province as the government has not yet given greater authority to the military to take necessary measures.

"The TNI could only have greater authority if the government declares an emergency situation in the region," Army Chief of Staff Endriartono told reporters after addressing the 55th anniversary of the Association of the Wives of Servicemen (Persit), held at the Balai Kartini meeting hall in Central Jakarta.

"Since the government has decided to establish civil order in Aceh, we (the TNI) can only back up the police, which will still be at the forefront of security forces," he added.

Earlier on Monday, Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri held a special meeting with leading Cabinet ministers, military and police leaders to discuss possible solutions for the problems in Aceh.

This closed-door meeting was held to discuss a proposed issuance of a presidential instruction (Inpres), which would be used to enable the government to take comprehensive measures to deal with the violence and conflicts in Aceh.

Present at the meeting were Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Rizal Ramli, Minister of Defense Mahfud M.D., TNI Commander Adm. Widodo A.S., National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro, chiefs of staff of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, and TNI's Strategic Intelligence Body (Bais) chief Vice Marshall Ian Santoso Perdanakusuma.

"Last (Monday) night, (Minister of Justice and Human Rights) Baharuddin Lopa was assigned to draft the presidential instruction.

"However, I'm in no position to inform you about the deadline for the issuance of this presidential instruction," Endriartono said.

When asked whether the presidential instruction would allow the military to be actively involved in efforts to restore security in Aceh, Endriartono said: "TNI will only be responsible for specific tasks, such as quelling armed civilian groups."

The four-star general said the Army had been preparing six companies of "special troops" to be dispatched to Aceh. These troops have been undergoing exclusive training with the Army's Special Force (Kopassus) at the latter's education and training center in Batujajar, Bandung, West Java.

Earlier, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had also said that the TNI headquarters had deployed 30,000 troops to Aceh.

Endriartono, however, said that the problems in Aceh were not limited to security matters, but also political, social, legal and economic matters which required a comprehensive solution.

The planned issuance of the presidential instruction was strongly opposed by military observer Lt. Gen. (ret) Hasnan Habib, saying that the government was on the right track by promoting dialog and negotiation in an attempt to find a solution to problems in Aceh.

"I don't think the government has put all its efforts into the dialog yet ... so, just keep going with that.

"Don't rush to impose a military operation there (in Aceh)," Hasnan said, while addressing a seminar on civilian and military relations here on Tuesday.

Meanwhile in Banda Aceh, the head of the local branch of the state-owned Bank Negara Indonesia 1946 (BNI '46), Banta Herman, 54, has been detained by police after he threatened to hand over one of his employees to separatist rebels.

Police's Cinta Meunasah II Operation deputy spokesman, Comr. Sudarsono, said Banta was arrested on Monday after he threatened to surrender an employee named Indra to the Free Aceh Movement after accusing him of embezzling Rp 71 million.

Banta's arrest on Monday caused panic among the bank's staff and customers as police raided the premises, examining every visitor.

"At the time of the arrest we received information that there was a GAM rebel in one of the bank's offices, therefore we had to screen all customers just to make sure," Sudarsono said.

Meanwhile, Aceh Besar Police chief Sayed Hoesaini said Banta's detention was related to the kidnapping of Indra two months earlier by suspected rebels.

Indra was held hostage for four days before being returned to his family. (02/edt)