PRESIDENTIAL VISIT HOPED TO PERPETUATE PEACE IN ACEH

Banda Aceh, Feb 22 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's visit to Aceh would hopefully perpetuate the peace reached following the signing of the MoU on peace in Helsinki.

"The President needs to be firm and order police personnel to maintain security in Aceh," the chairman of the Welfare Peace Party (PKS) Aceh represenative council Tgk H Ghufran Zainal Abidin said here on Sunday.
He made the statement in response to the planned two-day visit of the President and First Lady Ani Yudhoyono to dedicate a number of State Budget funded Aceh-Nias Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency projects starting Monday (Feb 23).
According to Ghufran, the replacement of Aceh police chief Inspector General Rismawan by Inspector General Adityawarman is also expected to contribute to combatting increasing crimes in the area.
"Blaming one another among security personnel have increased these days. And with the presence of the President, all such problems could hopefully be settled," he added.
It was also hoped that firm action of the President may secure the implementation of the upcoming general elections in Aceh.
The central government needs to have an action plan in place to maintain peace since the MoU reached in Helsinki. Maintaining is more difficult that creating, he added.