At least 400 Aceh village heads in Jakarta to discuss new province

Ridwan Max Sijabat ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Mon, 03/17/2008 12:29 PM  |  The Archipelago

At least 400 village heads from Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam have been in Jakarta in their fight for the development of Central Aceh, Bener Meriah, Gayo Lues, Southeast Aceh, Aceh Singkil and Sabulussalam into a new province, Aceh Leuser Antara.

The village heads, known as keuchik, have been pooled in a dormitory in Pandok Labu, South Jakarta, and their accommodation has been covered by successful Acehnese businesspeople in the city.

During their stay in Jakarta, they will meet with the House of Representatives leadership, Home Minister Mardiyanto, Coordinating Minister for Political, Security and Law Affairs A.S. Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla.

The head of Blang Pulo village in Bener Meriah regency, Samin said that during their stay in Jakarta, their tasks would be done by village secretaries and their trip to Jakarta did not cost the village administration.

"We come to Jakarta to ask the central government to form the proposed new province immediately because it is the last resort for them to have their villages touched by the development," he said.

Samino, head of the Sidodadi village in Bener Meriah, concurred and said they would be staying in the city until the central government accepted their political aspirations.

Bener Meriah regent Tagore A.B. said he could not prevent the village heads from going to Jakarta because they had their rights to express their aspiration and convey it to the central government.

"They do it because they are confident the new province will improve the livelihood of their people, create a feeling of safety and speed up their economic growth and for such purposes we are behind them," he said.

Asked to comment of the proposed establishment of the new province, Tagore said it was not contrary with the 2007 Aceh administration law which gave no vetoing rights to the mother province's governor.

The proposed formation of the new province has met a strong rejection from the Aceh provincial government and legislature which according to the 2004 regional administration law, have their authority to turn down such proposals.

"Under the Aceh administration law, the formation of a new province in Aceh becomes easier," said Tagore.

Aceh governor Irwandi Yusuf said he did not bar the village heads from going to Jakarta and the proposed formation of the Aceh Aceh Leuser Antara and Southwest Aceh provinces would not be discussed.

"Please, go to Jakarta for picnic but the gate to enter the discussion on the proposed formation of the two provinces have been closed. And upon their arrival home from Jakarta, we will audit their funds for the trip," he said.

The two new provinces are part of 13 bills on formation of new provinces and regencies which recently were endorsed by the House to be deliberated with the government.

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