DATE=11/17/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=INDONESIA / ACEH (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-256257
BYLINE=PATRICIA NUNAN
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: One day after Indonesian President Abdurrahman
Wahid announced he thought a referendum could be held
on the future status of the northern province of Aceh,
other government officials are questioning his
statement. As Patricia Nunan reports from Jakarta,
there is growing concern that allowing a vote on
independence to take place would mean the break-up of
Indonesia.
TEXT: The spokesman for the Indonesian Armed Forces
says President Abdurrahman Wahid was merely stating a
"personal opinion" when he said a referendum could be
held in Aceh in seven months. Major-General Sudrajat
is quoted in Jakarta's Republika newspaper as saying
that the president should consult with Indonesia's
National Assembly before deciding on whether a ballot
can be held.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday during a state visit to
Japan, Mr. Wahid said that a referendum could be held
in Aceh in seven months. But the president declined to
elaborate on what would take place during that time-
frame, and he did not explain what type of referendum
he had in mind.
The provincial governor of Aceh said Wednesday that
the president told him that voters would not cast
ballots on the question of full independence from
Indonesia if a referendum were held. Instead, Governor
Syamsuddin Mahmud says any possible ballot would give
voters the choice of accepting a special autonomy plan
for Aceh, or maintaining the status quo.
Demands for an independence vote have been fueled in
Aceh since the Indonesian government allowed East
Timor to break away last month, after a special
referendum supervised by the United Nations.
/// OPT /// Earlier this month some local
parliamentarians from Aceh issued an ultimatum to the
central government that if they did not announce that
an independence ballot could be held, they would hold
one themselves. The December 4th deadline has
prompted some people to begin leaving the province,
because of fears violence may break out. /// END OPT
///
Aceh is one of a handful of Indonesian provinces where
separatist movements are brewing. Demonstrations
calling for independence have been held in Irian Jaya,
Ambon and Sulawesi and Riau in recent months. Most
separatists complain of exploitation by Jakarta,
saying they do not receive enough of the revenue the
central government derives from their natural
resources.
NEB/PN/FC/JO
17-Nov-1999 05:28 AM EDT (17-Nov-1999 1028 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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