Indonesian Govt to Launch Economic Program in Aceh

The Indonesian government announced that it will launch a 100 billion rupiah (US$11 million) "economic crash program" from December 2000 to February 2001 to rehabilitate various economic infrastructures in Aceh Province.

The announcement made by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Rizal Ramli Saturday was just two days before a planned unilateral declaration of independence by some separatist groups in the volatile province, Antara news agency reported on Sunday.

The "immediate initiative" was designed to meet the economic and social demands of the Acehnese people such as "the elimination of injustices in the economic and social fields," the minister was quoted as saying.

"But the government will not tolerate the politicization of those normative demands into aspirations for independence," Rizal said.

"In order to obtain the best solution and win back the hearts of the Acehnese, the central government has set up an interdepartmental task force to implement this crash program," he added.

Meanwhile, President Abdurrahman Wahid said, "This has nothing to do with the plan for December 4 ... it is only a coincidence that we made the announcement at this moment."

Under the framework of the initiative, Jakarta will channel medicine, food and other basic supplies to flood-hit areas in Aceh.

Recent floods in Aceh have left at least 16 people dead and caused more than 800 billion rupiah (about 90 million dollars)in financial losses.

The government said it would also repair damaged infrastructure in Aceh including roads, schools, mosques, churches and telecommunication facilities.

The government also said it would take steps "to accelerate the implementation of special autonomy" in the troubled province and reiterated its earlier commitment to establish a free-port in Sabang, just off the northwestern tip of Sumatra.

"This economic relief package will be distributed to around 514 traditional communities in Aceh in stages," Rizal said.

President Wahid also called on the Acehnese "to maintain calm and security in Aceh so that these programs can be implemented properly."

"We do not want the Indonesian military to have too much of a role in Aceh expect for the maintenance of security and order," Wahid stressed.

Aceh separatist groups have been fighting with the central government for 25 years aimed at getting independence and thousands of lives have been claimed during the clashes.

Certain parties in Aceh announced in November that they would declare the province's independence on December 4 this year, fueling fears that Jakarta might be determined to take repressive measures in response to the upcoming action.






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