Asia Times: Wahid's leadership teeters on Aceh



	November 18, 1999	atimes.com

Southeast Asia

Wahid's leadership teeters on Aceh
By Kafil Yamin

JAKARTA - Indonesia's President Abdurrahman Wahid has taken many head-turning decisions in his month in office, but none as explosive and politically risky as saying that Aceh province should have an East Timor-style referendum.

So far, his decisions have indicated a major departure from the Suharto era and even the transitional president who came before him, Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie. Since becoming president October 20, Wahid has named a diverse cabinet more representative of Indonesia's ethnic diversity, and closed down some ministries.

Taking personal responsibility for restless Aceh, Wahid has said the previous military approach to separatist sentiment there would end and announced a pullout of troops.

Then, on November 4, Wahid said: ''If we allow East Timor to go ahead with referendum, why we don't allow the Acehnese? That's unfair.''

The statement has since taken a political life of its own. While it is music to the ears of many Acehnese, who resent a decade of military operation and human rights abuses by soldiers trying to quell separatism, it drew opposition from critics, including the military.

Now, Wahid's stand on Aceh is seen by some as a potential weak spot, and his biggest challenge. ''Once Aceh becomes independent, other provinces - Riau, Maluku and Irian Jaya will soon follow. And Indonesia will no longer exist,'' said Fachry Ali, a political expert here.

Critics say Wahid's own statements on a referendum may be encouraging Acehnese to go to the streets to demand a vote like that of East Timor, which was held on August 30 and resulted in an overwhelming vote for independence.

Earlier this month, more than 1 million Acehnese rallied in the capital, Banda Aceh, in support of a vote. The rumblings prompted Wahid to cut short a tour of southeast Asian capitals this month. He left on November 11 for the US, outraging those who felt he should have stayed behind to deal with what they viewed as fallout from his own statements on Aceh. ''The nation is under big threat, and he prefers an overseas trip,'' said Fachry. Other critics have begun questioning his widely-known statesmanship.

In a mid-flight press conference on the way back to Jakarta, Foreign Minister Alwi Shihab told the press that US President Bill Clinton in Washington firmly assured Wahid of his support for Indonesia's integrity. Clinton told Wahid that the US stance remains that ''Aceh is an inseparable part of Indonesia,'' Shihab said.

But some critics say Wahid, far from being weak, has been smart. ''He hinted at allowing a referendum in Aceh, because the demand has seemed to be unavoidable and because he should be consistent with his democratic nature,'' said a political analyst. ''But he secures international assertion that no foreign country would recognize the outcome of the referendum. So he solves the problem in one move.''

Aceh is a much more sensitive topic for most Indonesians than East Timor, which was ''integrated'' only after military troops invaded in 1976 after the rule of the territory's former colonizer, Portugal.

Aceh, whose 4 million people are devoutly Muslim, has been part of the Indonesian republic since its birth and played a major role in the fight against Dutch colonizers.

Aceh's frustrations have their roots in unfulfiled promises by past governments for genuine autonomy. These have also been fueled by military abuses in the Suharto era and the measly share Aceh gets from the wealth, especially natural gas, that it produces for Indonesia.

And while the military operation is supposed to be over, in July public anger erupted over the killing by soldiers of a religious leader and at least 50 followers.

Wahid has been trying to mend fences - promising an inquiry into past rights abuses in Aceh and an increase in the province's share of earnings from forestry, gas and oil. But many Acehnese feel it is simply too late. Mohammad Nazar, the 26-year-old leader of the Aceh Referendum Information Center, says that unlike East Timor there are no two sides to the issue of self-determination here. In published interviews, Nazar has asserted that ''no-one'' would campaign for autonomy in Aceh, also seen as much more valuable economically to Jakarta than tiny East Timor.

Wahid's recent decision to open commercial ties with Israel has also added to criticism of his still-young government. Wahid said Indonesians can learn from Israel in economic and democracy, but critics fear it will lead to diplomatic ties. Even some in the inner circle of Wahid, the Islamic ulemas, are upset at this reaching out to Israel, and several ambassadors from Islamic countries have expressed concern as well.

As Wahid tries to find balance between international support and resistance at home, calls for greater regional autonomy, even federalism, are being heard more and more.

In a recent general session, the House of East Kalimantan agreed to establish a federal state of East Kalimantan. ''This decision is final,'' said the province's House speaker Sukardi Jarwo. Riau, a wealthy province in Sumatra, has also come up with a Riau Declaration that demands separation from Indonesia. The declaration was made by the local House in March. In Irian Jaya in the east, rallies have also been staged in Sentani, Jayapura for self-rule.

''I think federalism is no longer an idea. It is now a need,'' said Anhar Gonggong, director of history and traditional values at the Ministry of National Education.

He even proposed a timetable: a ''United States of Indonesia'' could be established in 2010. With separatist movements now looming in several regions, he warned, the bureaucracy and Indonesia's political elite are racing against time to avoid national disintegration.

Added Anhar: ''If we don't come up with a solution immediately, the country will collapse.''

(Inter Press Service)

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