Jakarta – Indonesian Military (TNI) chief General Endriartono Sutarto has said that Indonesian government needed not to impose non-war martial law in the province of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD).

According to the TNI chief, during the handling of natural disasters, an emergency status can be imposed in the region so that the government has the legal force to mobilize any required help and support.

However, Sutarto said, the current situation in Aceh has shown the strong solidarity of all people to assist and help victims of the disasters.

As an example, he cited that the TNI had been unable to accommodate all support offered as it was considered to be too much.

"It also means that we no longer need to impose any emergency situation in order to mobilize help and support," stated Sutarto after a meeting with Singaporean defense minister Teo Chee Hean at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Jakarta on Wednesday (05/01). The TNI chief said he considered that the sending of too many people, including Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel, to help the situation in Aceh would be worthless as this would require huge funds for logistics support.

"If I send 1,000 military personnel for example, I shall need huge funds to facilitate their living there." said Sutarto.

In addition, said Sutarto, he did not consider that the mobilization of Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel would be effective for the time being.

According to him, the sending of small number of military personnel with complete equipment was more effective in speeding up the operation and rehabilitation of the regions hit by the disasters. (Dimas Adityo-Tempo News Room)