---------------------------------------------------------- FREE for JOIN Indonesia Daily News Online via EMAIL: go to: http://www.indo-news.com/subscribe.html - FREE - FREE - FREE - FREE - FREE - FREE - Please Visit Our Sponsor http://www.indo-news.com/cgi-bin/ads1 ---------------------------------------------------------- ANTARA, NOVEMBER 10, 1999 Aceh: HOUSE SPEAKER REFUSES REFERENDUM PLAN Jakarta, 10/11 (ANTARA)-House Speaker Akbar Tandjung said he disagreed with a referendum plan offered by President Abdurrahman wahid for the troubled province of Aceh. Referendum will only be a negative precedent for other provinces, Tandjung said after a commemoration of the National Heroes Day at Jakarta bay, north of here Wednesday. If the referendum took place, it would mean that Indonesia is on the brink of disintegration, Tandjung said, adding that such a condition is against tha fighting spirit of the nation's heroes. Tandjung, however, agreed with President Wahid's belief that Aceh will not seperate from Indonesia. "I know Acehnese's sense of belonging to the country is strong enough. They demonstrate that sence during struggle for independence," Tandjung said. He also believed that he is not alone in rejecting the plan, saying that members of the House of Representative (DPR) have expressed similiar refusal. The holding of a referndum, in which the Acehnese will decide their own political status, must get approval from DPR as well as the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR). He said the main causes of the problems in Aceh were not merely their wish to seperate from Indonesia but also injustices felt by the people which did not get proper response from the government. "Today, the government should give priority to Aceh," he said adding that President Wahid must as soon as possible visit the westernmost province. The president must hold dialogs with local figures and religious leaders, including the opposition leaders from the Aceh Freedom Movement (GAM), Tandjung said. "DPR has put Aceh as its top priority. A special meeting has been arranged. The meeting will discuss the establisment of a DPR team for Aceh," Tandjung said. The team, which will be chaired by the House Speaker, will organize dialogues with various concerned parties, including students from in Aceh and other province. Tandjung further said, he supported the Acehnese's demand that the government must take stern measures against figures who had involved in rights abuses, including rapes and killings in the province. On the demand for proportional income sharing from the region's natural resources, Akbar said that it is normal and need further consideration. "It will also include consideration to change the law on central- provincial financial management balance," he added. The law stated that a region which produced oil will have to contribute 85 percent of the profit to the central administration and 15 percent to the respective province. While for those which produce gas will contribute 70 percent of the profit and 30 percent went to the region. "If they want a change in the balance, it will be considered. But of course, because of the unitary spirit, the portion for the central government should be set properly," Tandjung said. The contribution will not be used merely for the central government but also for helping unwealthy regions. (T.PUS-01/NN06/NN-09/RII/NN-03/14:31/TB06) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 16 Nov 1999 jam 13:02:18 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
