A Andri/Swastika & LM, Jakarta – The chairman of the Aceh Referendum Information Center (SIRA), Muhammad Nazar, stated that, based on the results of some 30,000 surveys distributed throughout the province, 97% of Acehnese support a referendum.

"We found that 97 percent of the people of Aceh want a referendum. We distributed some 30,000 questionaires throughout Aceh province wand one of the questions was 'Do you agree with referendum in Aceh?'. The answer for that question was 'yes', 97 percent of the respondents agreed upon the referendum," explained Nazar contacted today, Thursday 22/6/2000.

Commenting on their demonstration which was held in Jakarta yesterday, Wednesday 21/6/2000, involving hundreds of students which demanded Speaker of the House Amien Rais support the referendum proposal in Aceh, Nazar said that the demonstration had been planned.

However, he could not confirm whether the Muslim scholar and Peoples' Mandate Party Chairman supported their aims. "I thought Pak Amien really stated his support for a referendum in Aceh [in the past]. But we think it's impossible for him to keep his promise. We have seen and given them chances but the result is just the same. They spoke out for a referendum only to gain sympathy from Aceh people," said Nazar.

Nazar also stated that the group is also seeking the disbursal of the Aceh Provincial Legislative Council because the majority of Acehnese demand it. "There's no other way, we ask for the dismissal of the Aceh Provincial Legislative Council," reiterated Nazar.