The Jakarta Post, December 04, 2001
Govt ready to impose state of emergency in Poso town
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Security authorities look set to impose a state of emergency in Poso, Central
Sulawesi, to end the raging sectarian conflict which claimed over 2,000 lives over the
past year alone.
"I will visit Poso on Tuesday to assess the situation and determine whether the
government needs to declare a military or civil emergency. After coming back from
Poso, we will recommend to the President how to restore peace in the province,"
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
told reporters after meeting with President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Monday.
During the visit, Susilo is scheduled to be accompanied by Indonesian Military (TNI)
chief Adm. Widodo A.S., National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar and Minister of
Home Affairs Hari Sabarno.
Susilo also revealed the government's plan to dispatch four battalions comprising
military and police personnel to undertake security operations there.
"The main responsibility of the troops is to stop the conflicts, conduct raids on
firearms and on the presence of a certain organization that should not be allowed to
stay in Poso," he said.
Susilo said the operation would start in the next two days.
Separately, Widodo said during a hearing with the House of Representatives'
Commission I on political, security and home affairs that the state of emergency in
Poso was urgently needed due to the escalation of the conflict there.
"The decision (to impose a state of emergency), of course, will be made following
coordination between the government and the House," Widodo said.
"Two weeks ago, we deployed 100 soldiers there to anticipate possible conflicts. To
date, that number has been raised to about 500 soldiers," Widodo added.
He further said that the TNI had prepared two battalions of the reinforcement troops to
be sent there.
Law No. 23/1959 stipulates that the government must secure the approval of the
House prior to imposing either a civil or military emergency on a particular region.
Responding to the latest developments in Poso, members of House Commission I
threw their weight behind the plan, saying that the government should consider
declaring a military emergency there.
"We must stop the violence and the sectarian conflict in Poso. If we can declare a
military emergency there, why don't we?," Jusril Ananta Baharuddin asked
rhetorically.
Civil emergency vs military emergency
CIVIL EMERGENCY:
1. The governor takes charge as the supreme authority.
2. The governor has the authority to issue regulations necessary to maintain public
order or security.
3. Every civilian employee in the region subject to the emergency is obliged to provide
information to the governor under certain circumstances.
4. The governor has the authority to limit shows, printing, publishing, announcements
or any form of information dissemination.
MILITARY EMERGENCY:
1. The military takes charge as the supreme authority.
2. The military has the right to take control in matters of public order and security.
3. The military has the right to restrict shows, printing, publishing, announcements, or
any form of information dissemination.
4. The military has the right to confiscate letters and packages sent through the post
office or couriers, also drafts and receipts and money sent through the such means,
and to censor, to change the content of or to destroy letters or packages.
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