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“Eagerly
Awaited” Islamic Law Implemented In Aceh
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| Shariah law
eagerly awaited
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By IOL correspondent Kazi Mahmood
JAKARTA,
Jan. 5 (IslamOnline) - The Shariah (Islamic law) has officially been implemented
in the province of Aceh or Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam this month, but Acehnese
leaders expressed pessimism on Thursday about the impact it will have on
separatism in the province.
Muchlis
Muchtar, a member of Commission A of the province's legislative council told the
Indonesian daily newspaper, Jakarta Post, that the Aceh people had long awaited
the implementation of Shariah in their daily life.
"But,
I see the officials have yet to prepare themselves for that. Corruption is still
rampant. No wonder the people have half-heartedly welcomed the decision despite
the fact they had eagerly awaited it," Muchlis said.
On
the contrary, the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and human rights watch groups in
Banda Aceh argued the province and the people did not need the implementation of
a law to prove that Islam is alive in Aceh.
“Acehnese
practice Islam in almost everything they do. No need to come with laws such as
these to make a farce…” said an Acehnese who wished the central government
understood their plight for freedom.
Conflict
between the Indonesian police and military and the GAM has yet to be settled,
despite a series of peace talks in Geneva. The special autonomy law voted last
year in July, with the Shariah is expected to become an alternative to end the
conflict.
At
least this is what the central government under President Megawati Sukarnoputri
hopes.
The
Syah Kuala University Students' Executive Body (BEM) said in a press statement
released on Thursday that the leaders' morals had caused the Acehnese to be
pessimistic about the implementation of Shariah.
"Therefore,
Shariah has yet to be well received among the people. Shariah has become a
political commodity of the political elite," Fitrah Saputra, the
secretary-general of Syah Kuala University's BEM, said.
The
students said that the provincial executives did not have the good will and have
not shown serious efforts to implement Shariah, which they said could help
settle the bloody conflicts in Aceh.
The
House of Representatives (DPR) in Jakarta enacted the special autonomy law for
Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam in July, 2001.
The
law stipulates that the province enjoys 70 percent of oil and gas revenue, while
the 30 percent will go to the central government. The province will also receive
80 percent of the total revenue from agriculture and fisheries.
With
the special autonomy law, which came into effect on January 1 this year, the
province is granted the privilege to implement Islamic law.
However,
it is not yet clear how Islamic law will practically be implemented in daily
life. Many are still puzzled how the Aceh District Court will try those charged
with criminal acts or other illegal actions. It is also not clear whether
Shariah will apply to Muslims only.
In
a seminar held at the Syah Kuala University in December 2001, a participant
pointed out that, "The main priority is the aqidah (faith), the second step
is akhlak (morality) and the last is legal, meaning the criminal and civil
laws."
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