TNI waits to be given authority to act in Aceh

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)