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Indonesian Government Takes Separatism to Task
by Kazi Mahmood
JAKARTA, Aug 14 (IslamOnline) - Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri on Monday made it known that she had began the "impossible" task of addressing separatist tensions in two resource-rich provinces, Aceh and Irian Jaya.
Megawati, a nationalist who does not concede defeat against separatism, indicated that she would forge a dialogue with the opposition in the two provinces.
However, sources in Jakarta indicated that the opposition in Aceh and Irian Jaya could face difficulties if they refuse dialogue, saying that Megawati would shelve plans for greater autonomy if the opposition in the provinces does not negotiate a peace treaty.
Contacted by phone, a Free Aceh Movement (GAM) leader said to IslamOnline that they do not expect much from Megawati Sukarnoputri's regime.
Zaini Abdullah, a GAM leader residing in Stockholm, said that for the Acehnese people, the change of leadership in Indonesia was not significant.
He added that the Java-based administration had only one thing in mind: "They want to safeguard their economic interest, thus they will try to crush the rebellion of the Acehnese people."
The GAM said it was ready to negotiate a settlement with the Indonesian government as long as the latter was ready to accept the inevitable. "The inevitable is the independence of Aceh from Indonesia" Abdullah said to IslamOnline.
Megawati has a difficult task ahead of her. In deciding to handle the Aceh and Irian Jaya problems she might have engaged herself in a "win or lose" situation.
If she decides on strengthening the army in the province, she will surely face international condemnation. The army has been accused of extensive violations of human rights abuses in the province.
The Indonesian government under Abdurrahman Wahid failed to satisfy the international community and the Acehnese by dragging its feet on investigations on human rights abuse.
The army is currently engaged in a "light military operation", or DOM, that had been previously practiced during the years of former leader General Suharto.
The latter devised the DOM to limit the extent of the GAM's operations in Aceh and to secure the exploitation of resources from the province.
The GAM states that given the free hand in its operations in Aceh, the military went on a rampage, killing thousands of innocents and burning pro-GAM villages, and engaged in Aceh under the Kostad (specially trained commando units), the military "[is] carrying out a terrifying war of extermination."
Zaini Abdullah said that both the Indonesian government and military have to answer for fresh abuses in the province.
In her first address on the issue of separatism, Megawati said the two regions threatened the country's unity. The 54-year-old president said she wanted to give peace a chance and that many initiatives would be introduced to achieve it.
Megawati is expected to outline her policies on Aceh and Irian Jaya Thursday in her national address, called the Pidato, on the eve of Indonesia's independence day.
Indonesians are eagerly awaiting the first speech by their newly elected president, hoping she will announce measures that could, in the long run, alleviate numerous troubles.
A majority of the people in Java is against the splitting of Aceh from Indonesia.
A brief survey conducted by IslamOnline in the capital city indicates that Javanese in Jakarta desire that the military engage the GAM in direct firefights.
However, the new administration is bent on continued dialogue, offering greater autonomy to Aceh and Irian Jaya.
But the army, for its part, may pressure the new regime, gain influence and offer a military solution to the conflict. And Megawati recognizes she owes her presidency to the military, having earned their support during the emergency decree declaration by Wahid.
Observers say the military might force the Indonesian president to go to war in Aceh, in order to prove that they are capable to keep the Indonesian republic intact.
As a first step in her attempts to deal with troubles in Aceh, Megawati invited dozens of Aceh's public and religious figures to Jakarta.
Antara quoted Megawati as saying she will implement a new law on Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, recently voted by the Legislative Assembly in Jakarta. The new autonomy law gives Aceh a degree of self-rule and would also allow it to retain 70% of its resources.
The GAM has rejected the Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam autonomy system, saying that it is only a perpetuation of Indonesian government domination in the territory.
The GAM has waged a 30-year war against Indonesia, claiming that the Java-based administration has failed in its promises to the Acehnese people.
Aceh joined Indonesia in 1947 on promises that the republic be turned into an Islamic entity.
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