Tony Hotland, Jakarta – A number of politicians have voiced strong criticism of the Aceh peace deal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), with opposition bloc the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) demanding a court ruling to revoke it.
PDI-P has moved to file a motion with the Constitutional Court against the peace accord for violating a number of laws, including those on political parties, on special autonomy for Aceh, on the central bank and on the Indonesian Military.
"There is no such stipulation awarding a region a 70 percent share of revenue from natural resources. What will happen if East Kalimantan, Riau or other rich regions demand the same privilege?" PDI-P secretary-general Pramono Anung Wibowo said on Wednesday.
He was referring to the peace agreement which ensures Aceh, among other things, 70 percent of revenue from all current and future hydrocarbon deposits and other natural resources in the province.
The Indonesian government and Free Aceh Movement (GAM) signed the accord in Helsinki on Monday, after months of negotiation facilitated by the Crisis Management Institute.
The MOU was officially made public only minutes after its signing, but many legislators apparently had yet to be briefed about its detailed contents as of Tuesday afternoon.
The House of Representatives had previously urged the government to seek the advice of the legislature, which will play a dominant role in implementing many of the MOU's key elements.
"I was shocked when I read the full contents as it's like giving authority to Aceh to fully govern itself," chairman of the PDI-P faction in the House Tjahjo Kumolo said.
The English version of the MOU was read out by Vice President Jusuf Kalla during a consultation meeting last week, which was attended by House leaders.
Speaking on the sidelines of the first House plenary session of the 2005-2006 session on Tuesday, Tjahjo claimed that only general information on the MOU had been provided and that copies of the agreement had not been distributed to lawmakers.
He said he would call on the House to hold a session with the government to explain the MOU and the reasons behind it.
An even stronger response came from Acehnese legislator Anhar, from the Star Reform Party (PBR), who expressed his intense disappointment over the government's failure to provide full information on the MOU beforehand.
"This is almost like a state within a state as Aceh will be granted full autonomy in all economic fields, something that could cross the acceptable limits. GAM must be coordinating with neighboring countries in the economic field," he said.
Anhar said that the level of autonomy being granted could in time lead to a second Timor Leste, which voted for independence from Indonesia through a United Nations-brokered referendum in 1999.
The chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) faction in the House, Abdillah Toha, was restrained in his comments, however, saying that he had yet to receive a copy of the MOU.
But there must not be provisions that could instigate envy in other areas, he warned.
However, support for the peace pact came from Golkar faction chairman Andi Matalatta as well as House Speaker Agung Laksono, who is also from the Golkar Party, which is led by Vice President Jusuf Kalla.
"Golkar maintains its support for all peace efforts, including those designed to terminate conflicts with dignity. But the government will need our approval when it comes to granting amnesties and any amendments of the law," Andi said.
Constitutional Court President Jimly Asshidiqie said the MOU would not be legally binding until it had been incorporated into national law.
In his State of the Nation address to the House on Tuesday, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono defended the MOU, saying the government had "steadfastly followed a principled position, namely, preserving the integrity of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia".