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.