War disrupts public administration
War disrupts public administration
Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung
Following the imposition of martial law on May 19, the government
has decided to postpone the election of eight regents in
resource-rich Aceh where sporadic violence has been going on for
decades.
Home Minister Hari Sabarno said the election of new regents in
eight Aceh regencies would be delayed because of the current
conflict and martial law.
"Regent elections in those eight regencies will be postponed
until the situation in the province is under control and the
security and order are restored," he said after the inauguration
of West Java governor Danny Setiawan here on Friday.
Regents whose term of office have ended include those from
South Aceh, North Aceh, West Aceh and Aceh Besar.
When asked if a direct election would be used when the vote
finally occurs, in accordance with Law No. 18/2001 on special
autonomy, Hari said the government would use the older system
wherein just the members of the regency council have a vote.
"The (special autonomy) law technically took effect in 2002,
but the government will not enforce it entirely during this
transitional period," he said.
The minister also confirmed that many district heads in Aceh
had relinquished their daily activities of serving the public due
to the rebels' frequent intimidation and terror.
"But, besides military officers, many graduates of the Home
Administration Academy (STPDN) have applied to replace the
resigning district heads. We are in the process of selecting
them," he said.
The public administration in Aceh has not operated in a
completely normal way since Acehnese separatists took up arms
against the government in 1976 to protest what they claim has
been injustice and unfair treatment by the central government in
the province.
More than 10,000 people have been killed and tens of thousands
of others have had to leave their home villages for makeshift
camps inside and outside the province. During the four weeks of
the current military offensive, dozens more have been killed in
action.
Asked to comment on the recent resignation of 77 village
heads, known as keucik, Minister Hari said it was their right to
do so and regents should take the initiative to appoint their
successors.
"But, so far, no civil servants have quit their service and
joined GAM (the Free Aceh Movement) rebels," he said, while
adding that many civil servants might show their loyalty to the
Indonesian government but, in their minds, they may support GAM.