BANDA ACEH, 22 November 2000 - The government issued a final warning to all parties in Aceh, including the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and the Information Center for an Aceh Referendum (SIRA), to halt all subversive activities or a state of emergency would be imposed in the province. Coordinating Minister for Security, Political and Social Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono made the announcement on Wednesday following a meeting with Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri, Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Adm. Widodo Adisucipto, Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab and AttorneyGeneral Marzuki Darusman.
If the call is ignored the government will take sterner actions, with the last resort being the imposition of a state of emergency in the province, Susilo said. "We will not wait until the end of the second phase of the humanitarian pause, which is on Jan. 15. The important thing for us is that there is a positive response from all related parties to our call," Susilo said as quoted by Antara news agency.
According to Susilo, imposing a state of emergency was not an ideal alternative, but if security in Aceh further deteriorated the government would have no other option. He also dismissed growing speculation the government lacked the vision to resolve the problems in Aceh, saying three plans were currently being developed by the House of Representative. These plans are special autonomy for Aceh, the acceleration ofdevelopment in the province and special policies on religion and social issues for Aceh.
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