Banda Aceh – The civil state of emergency authority in Aceh has decided to open five regencies for foreigners wishing to enter Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD) province.

According to Insp. Gen. Bachrumsyah Kasman, who is responsible for the daily operation of the civil state of emergency in the NAD province, the regencies are Sabang, Simeulu, Singkil, Southeast Aceh and Gayo Lues.

Foreigners who would be allowed to enter Aceh, Kasman said, were investors and tourists. A selection process will be carried out as regards foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that will be allowed to enter Aceh based on their interest in Aceh.

"If an NGO is useful for Aceh, we will allow its people to enter Aceh. Otherwise, we will certainly ban them," Kasman told reporters in Banda Aceh on Tuesday (23/11).

Since the military state of emergency was imposed in May 2003, the government had banned foreigners from entering Aceh. The government has slightly lessened this strict policy since the civil state of emergency was imposed in Aceh in May this year. The government had since allowed investors and foreign tourists to visit Sabang and Simeulu islands via Sultan Iskandar Muda airport in Banda Aceh.

According to Bachrumsyah, the current situation in Aceh only enables the opening of the five regencies for foreigners as the situation in these regencies is much safer than in the other areas in Aceh. "It's for the sake of the foreigners. Other regencies are still dangerous in terms of their security," said Kasman, who is also Aceh Police chief.

The civil state of emergency authority in Aceh is also considering allowing foreign ships to enter Sabang harbor under tight guard. This measure is aimed at helping economic recovery in Aceh. "Within the next one or two weeks, there will be a clear regulation issued regarding this matter," Kasman stated.

He added that the second phase of the civil state of emergency in Aceh would be focused on economic operations, implemented through the development of the agriculture sector. However, this does not mean that the authority would reduce security operations.

"We have to admit that there have been problems in conducting economic operations in Aceh, bearing in mind the government's limited funds," said Kasman.

Meanwhile, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD) governor Abdullah Puteh said that he and Kasman would request the Corruption Eradication Commission to audit the use of funds during the first phase of the civil state of emergency. (Yuswardi A Suud/Sunariah-Tempo News Room)