GAM Objects to Aceh Bill
Friday, 16 June, 2006 | 13:14 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The Free Aceh Movement (GAM) disapproved of several points in the Aceh Government Bill (RUU PA). According to GAM, the bill, which is currently being discussed by the House of Representatives (DPR), is not in accord with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in Helsinki and does not accommodate the aspirations of the Acehnese.

“We will object to anything that is not in agreement with the Helsinki MoU,” said Teuku Kamaruzzaman, a member of the team for formulating the GAM version of RUU PA, in a press conference at the Parliament complex yesterday (15/6).

According to Kamaruzzaman, GAM wants ten issues be included in the bill. Starting from the Aceh government authority, the power of managing oil and gas, legal jurisdiction for human rights violations, and establishment of the truth and reconciliation commission.

GAM sees some inharmonious matters regarding Aceh governmental authority in Article seven point three of the bill. The clause says aside from foreign political affairs, defense, security, administration of office, monetary, and national fiscal policy, and several religious matters, the central government still has additional authority. Nevertheless, in the MoU, only these matters are under the authority of the central government.

Kamaruzzaman also highlighted the next Article on the Aceh Representatives Council. In point one and two of the DPR version, Aceh must be asked for an opinion about the plan of the Indonesian government for foreign and home affairs relating to Aceh. The Article says only the governor is asked for approval relating to administrative policy in Aceh.

Kamaruzzaman's declaration is disputed by the Head of the RUU PA Working Committee Ferry Mursyidan Baldan. “The bill is not finished yet; it is still in progress. It is too early to say that the bill is not accomodating,” he told Tempo.

According to him, the bill is already in line with the Helsinki MoU. Although not all points are included in the bill, such as trials for human rights violation which will be regulated by another decree, the bill has substantially fulfilled the MoU requirements.

Similar opposition came from DPR Chairman Agung Laksono. According to him, the bill is quite ambitious, accommodative, and democratic. The team has made much progress, despite its being rather slow. “I'm sure that the meetings are democratic and able to accommodate and appreciate all the people's aspirations,” he said yesterday.

Aqida Swamurti