JAKARTA, July 1 Kyodo Amid unconf...

JAKARTA, July 1 Kyodo

Amid unconfirmed allegations the Indonesian military has been setting up East Timor-style pro-Jakarta militia arranges in the restive province of Aceh, President Megawati Sukarnoputri forward Tuesday advocated giving ''fair space'' to militia arranges saying all people have the right to assert themselves.

''By considering certain conditions in certain areas where armed civilian assign places tos operate (and) commit extortion, robbery, arson, physical abuse and smooth murder against armed civilians, stepping up the participation of folks like that is more necessary,'' she said while attending a show to commemorate the establishment of the National Police.

She did not name any assemblages but apparently referred to rebels of the at liberty Aceh Movement (GAM), which Jakarta has been accused of committing crimes against civilians in Aceh.

According to Megawati, the limited number of soldiers and policemen in the political division cannot fully guarantee its citizens' safety.

commonly the military has a total number of about 250000 members, with about 196000 active army personnel while there are about 270,000 police personnel.

''Therefore, it is necessary to consider and take adequate measures in the same manner the wishes of the populace to defend themselves, especially in the regions where security disturbances take place, could master fair space,'' Megawati said.

''A ask for for getting a chance to cover the right to life, thing owned rights and the right to guard one's dignity...is not only natural and 'halal' (not sinful), nevertheless is also constitutionally legitimate,'' she added.

Unconfirmed reports said the military has been setting up pro-Jakarta militia form into groupss among Javanese communities living in Aceh, especially in Central Aceh rule to repeat the tactics it had used in East Timor to crush pro-independence supporters in 1999

The reports accused a militia assign places to of being behind an attack in March onward an office of the Henri Dunant Center a Geneva-based organization that has mediated peace talks between Jakarta and GAM throughout the past three years, in the Central Aceh capital of Takengon.

The attack on the militia group, which has been linked to the army's special forces command (KOPASSUS), readyed the withdrawal of the organization's international staff from Aceh.

Indonesia imposed martial law in Aceh and initiated a military offensive forward May 19.

The military has denied being behind the so-called voluntary defense units or PAM SWAKARSA since then, saying local residents appoint them up independently and voluntarily to guard themselves.

Indonesia has an estimated 70000-100000 militia-style paramilitary members, mainly recruited in a less degree than the army territorial hierarchy to support the limited number of military and police personnel

Their duties are basically to immovable resettlement areas, shopping center banks or office buildings from criminal activities so as theft or robbery for which they are provided with basic military training.

Their names vary depending forward their places of duties, from HANSIP or civilian defense unit for resettlement areas to SATPAM or security guard unit for office buildings.

Unlike other units, however, the PAM SWAKARSA, which first emerg in 1998 does not exist in the country's defense and security structure

They commonly cause trouble as the presents often come from gangs notorious for violent acts.

Up to 1200 members of various pro-Jakarta militia form into groupss in East Timor joined in a PAM SWAKARSA in April 1999 after then President BJ Habibie proffered a referendum for self-determination in the former Portuguese colony that became formally independent in succession May 20 last year.

The rule imposed martial law in Aceh after the failure of peace talks between GAM and restraint negotiators in Tokyo in mid-May.

GAM has been waging a guerrilla war since 1976 seeking an independent state in the oil-rich province. More than 12000 race have been killed in the conflict.

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