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Aceh: Megawati's Toughest Test

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By Nick Nugent

BBC News
August 20, 2001

Map showing Aceh
Hours after Indonesia's new president, Megawati Sukarnoputri, apologised for what she called 'mismanagement' in the troubled provinces of Aceh and Irian Jaya, there were a series of explosions in the Acehnese capital, Bandar Aceh.

Aceh has become the litmus test of success in both governing Indonesia and in keeping this vast country united. President Megawati's predecessor, Abdurrahman Wahid, made it his top priority to solve the separatist violence that has brought about the deaths of at least 6,000 people over 12 years.

He promised greater autonomy for the province and said the province could keep a greater share of its oil and gas wealth. He also initiated talks with the separatist Gerkan Aceh Medeka (GAM) or Free Aceh Movement. Several rounds of talks have taken place in Geneva.

Armed intervention

However, he is also reported to have sanctioned army operations earlier this year aimed at wiping out GAM on the ground, a move said to have been supported at the time by then Vice President Megawati.

There has certainly been no reduction of violence in the province with around 1,000 people killed since the start of this year.

President Megawati has similarly made Aceh a top priority. Since taking office last month, she has met senior provincial leaders, signed into law a provision granting Aceh an unprecedented level of financial and political autonomy and announced her intention to visit the northern Sumatran province early next month.

Her most dramatic gesture came in the presidential speech to mark Indonesia's 56th anniversary of independence from the Dutch on Friday. She apologised for past government "mismanagement, for prolonged conflicts and abuse of human rights" in both Aceh and the other troubled province of Irian Jaya.

Violence in the Acehnese capital following the speech suggests it has done little to appease militants separatists, who claim to have most of the Acehnese people behind them.

Autonomy hopes

President Megawati hopes the autonomy law, which will be implemented gradually over several years, may help solve the separatist problem.

The new law:

  • Authorises the introduction of shariah, or Islamic law, in this staunchly Islamic province which was never entirely subdued by the Dutch.

  • Provides for local electoral reform giving the people greater control over their own affairs.

  • Grants the province 70% of revenue from its rich oil and gas fields.

    This may seem generous given that the province's gas exports alone are reported to have provided 30% of the central government's revenue in 2000.

    Violence

    Closure of the gas facility for three months this year because of separatist violence is said to have cost the government and the Exxon Mobil subsidiary that runs it around $350m.

    However, it will not have escaped the notice of Acehnese separatists that East Timor, which seceded from Indonesia in 1999, is to receive 90% of revenue deriving from the oil and gas fields in the Timor Gap.

    The provision comes under the terms of a deal brokered by the UN authority now administering East Timor.


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    FAIR USE NOTICE: This page contains copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Global Policy Forum distributes this material without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. We believe this constitutes a fair use of any such copyrighted material as provided for in 17 U.S.C § 107. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.