LAKSAMANA.Net, June 13, 2004 11:48 PM
Review - Regions: Aceh Governor Takes Over
Laksamana.Net - The Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) officially handed over power to
the civilian governor, Abdullah Puteh, in a ceremony at the governor's office Monday
(7/6/04), almost three weeks after martial law was lifted in the province.
Puteh, former martial law chief Maj. Gen. Endang Suwarya and acting security
minister Hari Sabarno signed a "Transfer of Command and Operational Control" order.
Suwarya will remain the province's military chief and the military operation against
separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels will continue.
The National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas) has said that there should be clear rules
of conduct for security personnel, so as to differentiate their behavior under martial law
and under a civil emergency.
Civilians have often complained of harassment by both GAM fighters and police and
military personnel.
Civilian authorities still have special powers, including the power to censor the press
and impose a curfew.
Despite the province's change of status, a number of regulations from the martial law
period still apply, including a ban on foreigners entering the province, Puteh
announced Wednesday (9/6/04).
"We are still banning foreigners from entering Aceh.... However, we will make an
exception for the Sabang (tourist resort)," Puteh said.
Provincial police chief Insp. Gen. Bachrumsyah Kasman added that the ban on
foreigners was needed to secure Aceh from people "who want to initiate a conflict".
Puteh warned that martial law regulations still in effect included shooting on sight
unidentified, suspicious-looking people.
Puteh made the announcement after meeting with civil emergency authorities, and an
assistance team deployed from Jakarta, led by ad interim Coordinating Minister for
Political and Security Affairs Hari Sabarno.
The need for Puteh to consult with the team from Jakarta on all policies regarding the
province is thought to be related to his implication in two graft cases. Puteh was
questioned for eight hours at the National Police Headquarters in Jakarta on Tuesday
(8/6/04).
Speaking in Banda Aceh on Wednesday (9/6/04), Sabarno said the authorities
expected the civil emergency in the province to receive a smooth implementation
despite the fact that Puteh is a witness in one of the corruption cases.
"He will have to divide his time (between being the civil emergency administrator) and
answering police summons," Sabarno was quoted as saying. "We cannot deactivate
officials every time they become witnesses in police cases."
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) also grilled Puteh on Thursday
(10/6/04) over his alleged involvement in corruption cases.
The governor is suspected of marking up the price of new power generators, which
reportedly caused Rp30 billion ($3.3 million) in state losses and a markup in the
purchase of a Russian Mi-2 helicopter that cost Rp12 billion.
Four more people including three separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels were
killed on Tuesday (8/6/04), said military spokesman Asep Sapari. The men were killed
in three skirmishes in different areas of North Aceh, said provincial military
spokesman Lt. Col. Asep Sapari. Troops confiscated several automatic weapons from
the victims. Troops seized three automatic rifles and a handgun. Sapari also accused
the rebels of murdering a 30-year-old man in Pidie district.
W. Java Students Grilled
Police at Sumedang in West Java questioned several students from the Institute of
Public Administration (STPDN) on Monday (7/6/04) over their alleged backing of
activities of the separatist Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM).
The students, all from the province of Maluku, had been caught wearing T-shirts
bearing symbols of the South Maluku Republic (RMS) separatist movement which has
been blamed for three days of renewed violence in Maluku in April that killed at least
41 people.
The T-shirts, with 'Mollucas Adventure' on the front were blue, white, green and red.
"Mollucas is the term associated with RMS supporters," Sumedang Police chief Adj.
Sr. Comr. Yoyok Subagyono told the press.
The college is administered by the Ministry of Home Affairs and students train there to
be civil servants.
Sinambela, a lawyer for Wahyu and Toni, denied that his clients deliberately ordered
the T-shirts in support for the RMS, claiming they didn't know that their T-shirts bore
symbols similar to the RMS.
Appeal Court Reduces Sentence
Sardona Siliwang, 23, who stored explosive material that was later used in the deadly
Marriott hotel bombing in Jakarta, has had his prison sentence reduced on appeal.
The Bengkulu district court had sentenced Siliwangi to 10-years in jail on February
26.
Siliwangi was the first person to be sentenced in connection with the suicide attack
on the hotel, which killed 12 people on August 5 last year. He was found guilty of
terrorism for storing six cartons of explosive materials left by Asmar Latin Sani, who
drove the van onto the Marriott forecourt and died in the attack, at his home in
Bengkulu.
The appeal court at Bengkulu cut Siliwang's sentence to eight years because he had
not realized that the chemicals were intended for use in a bomb.
"The defendant did not know he was storing explosives and was only told it was
explosives by the police after his arrest," said a court spokesman Tuesday (8/6/04).
Terror Suspect Challenges Arrest
A 24-year old man, identified only as Emil, detained by police in the provincial capital
of Palu on charges of murdering prosecutor Ferry Silalahi, plans to sue for what he
claims was a wrongful arrest.
Police investigators are continuing the questioning of Emil, but his family and friends
have demanded that he be released, and denied his alleged role in the May 26 murder
of Silalahi in Palu.
Backed by at least 27 lawyers from the Indonesian Advocates Association (AAI)
based in Palu, Emil and his family plan to file a lawsuit against the Palu Police over
the alleged unlawful arrest. They accuse the police of arresting the wrong man,
insisting that Emil had an alibi.
On Monday (7/6/04) police arrested a soldier, named only by his initial as R, in
connection with the murder, and released him the following day.
Central Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. Taufik Ridha said on Friday (11/6/04) his
office was ready to face the lawsuit from Emil. "It's his right (to sue) and we are
prepared to face any legal consequences," he said, claiming that the police had
sufficient evidence to charge Emil. "So it's not an unlawful arrest because his
detention is based on the results of a mature investigation."
Although Emil was not the prime suspect in the murder incident, the man would still
be prosecuted under the terrorism law because he knew of the plan to carry out the
murder but did not report it to the police, said Ridha.
Four Dead in Papua Tribal Violence
Police announced on Wednesday (9/6/04) they would open an investigation into the
violence in Mimika district in Timika town, which claimed the lives of four people.
"The (Nduga and Damal) tribes have stopped fighting and the situation is stabilizing.
So we will be able to start the legal investigation into the dispute in Timika," National
Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Paiman said.
Paiman said an increased presence of more than 300 Mobile Brigade officers in the
town had helped the situation return to normal.
The violence was triggered by a family feud almost a month ago. In that earlier feud, a
member of the Nduga tribe, Jimmy Murib, killed a member of the Damal tribe,
Mathius.
Mathius was killed after he was accused of murdering Jimmy's niece, Novi Kun.
Police, however, say Novi committed suicide.
Damal tribal leader Helminus Murib earlier told Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Timbul
Silaen that the clashes would end when the number of casualties on both sides was
equal. Police say each tribe has now suffered two deaths.
The clashes, in which fighters used spears, bows and arrows, ended after the death of
the fourth victim late Tuesday, local time. Police say the Nduga and Damal tribes are
now holding a ceremony to mark the end of hostilities.
About 50 people were injured in the latest fighting and police say fighting could
resume if any of the injured men die.
Two Hikers Killed at Bromo
Two hikers were killed and seven others injured Tuesday (8/6/04) when they were hit
by a shower of hot rocks expelled by Mount Bromo, a volcano popular with tourists on
the eastern end of Java Island.
The volcano produced a three-kilometer high column of ash and smoke before erupting
late in the afternoon. One of the dead was a Singaporean, and the other a local
tourist, police said. The eruption also injured seven people who were hit by the shower
of hot rocks.
Two days later a second volcano erupted, killing two tourists and seriously injuring
another. Mount Awu, on Sangihe Island, 1,350 miles northeast of Jakarta, exploded in
a major eruption Thursday (10/6/04), hurling stones and spewing smoke. The
explosion threw up rocks near the volcano crater and spewed smoke 9,900 feet into
the air, but there was no lava flow.
It was followed by several smaller blasts and aftershocks, and thick black smoke
billowed from the crater for much of the day, witnesses said. All three victims were
Indonesians from Bali.
The island's airport was closed and authorities blocked roads leading to the mountain.
Vulcanologists had expected a big eruption and about 20,000 villagers were evacuated
on Monday (7/6/04) after the volcano began spewing ash and thick smoke. They were
housed in the nearby town of Tahuna, in government offices and other public buildings.
Officials distributed rice, blankets and instant noodles. A light coat of ash from the
volcano, which lies just south of the Philippines' Mindanao Island, covered local
beaches and villages for days.
Several blasts had shaken the volcano on Wednesday (9/6/04). Warnings of more
blasts kept thousands of villagers away from their homes on the mountainside.
In August 1966, the 4,330-foot volcano erupted, killing 40 people and causing
thousands to flee. It last erupted in October 1992 but caused no casualties.
Eight Dead in Crash Horror
A collision between a bus and a minibus in Tegal regency killed at least eight people
and injured 15 others, five of them seriously. The deadly crash took place just before
midnight on Thursday (10/6/04) on the Semarang-Jakarta main coast road in Suradadi
district.
Police and witnesses said the accident occurred when an L-300 minibus carrying at
least 11 passengers lost control as it traveled west to Jakarta at high speed.
The bus, carrying around 30 passengers, was traveling in the opposite direction to
Surakarta, Central Java. The minibus was severely damaged, while the bus slammed
into a police post on the right-hand side after hitting the minibus, Suradadi Police
chief Adj. Comr. Suyono said.
Copyright © 2000 - 2004 Laksamana.net, All Rights Reserved.
|
