TOKYO -- Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid, attempting to defuse growing separatist pressure in the province of Aceh, said on Tuesday the territory could be able to choose its own future in seven months.
But amid fears a split from Indonesia would spark a chain reaction that would tear apart the nation's fragile unity, it was unclear if the resource-rich province would be allowed to vote for independence or simply for more control over its own affairs.Thousands of people in the province are not waiting for a vote and are already leaving, fearing unrest.
Many Indonesians, still shocked by East Timor's Aug. 30 vote to break away, hope Jakarta can appease separatist demands in Aceh without going as far as offering independence.
In Tokyo for talks with Indonesia's biggest aid donor after his election nearly a month ago, Wahid told reporters it was unclear if the Aceh ballot would be on autonomy or independence.
"As for the referendum on Aceh, a decision on the framework for the referendum will have to depend on the people themselves," he said.
Thousands of mainly non-Acehnese are fleeing after rumors that Free Aceh guerrillas will launch an offensive in early December if the government does not agree to an independence ballot, residents said on Tuesday.
Provincial newspapers reported transport out is booked out for two weeks and people have withdrawn savings from banks.
"The people now are in a heavy stress because of the rumors of war," said a resident from the capital, Banda Aceh.
It is unclear if Wahid has the power to make the decision on the referendum himself. Some political leaders say any ballot must be approved by Indonesia's parliament and top legislature, the People's Consultative Assembly.
Assembly speaker Amien Rais says he backs a referendum but not now because Indonesia would break up if Aceh split.
Parliament speaker Akbar Tandjung said in Jakarta handing more powers to provincial legislatures was a better solution.
"All I know is that the house has a high spirit to maintain the unity (of the nation)," he said, referring to parliament.
"A referendum which gives an option of independence is not in line with that spirit."
The politically powerful military said it would seek to head off an independence vote, warning it could herald the end of the world's fourth most populous nation, already struggling with other separatist movements and more than two years of a crushing economic crisis.
"A referendum on autonomy is fine," chief armed forces spokesman Major-General Sudrajat told Reuters in Jakarta. "But a referendum on independence -- no, because it will lead to a Balkanisation process.
"Yesterday, Timor; today Aceh; tomorrow Irian Jaya and the day after tomorrow Kalimantan."
Wahid, however, dismissed the strength of separatist feeling around the vast archipelago, home to more than 300 ethnic groups.
"They are a minority, a very small minority," he said.
Wahid has already offered Aceh a bigger share of its own resource wealth and promised negotiations with local leaders.
Few expected a quick move to a vote, especially after the debacle in East Timor, where a U.N.-run vote, held seven months after then President B.J. Habibie suggested the idea, led to East Timorese overwhelmingly chosing independence.
A violent backlash led by pro-Jakarta militia quickly followed the vote, leaving the territory in ruins.
Acehnese are increasingly demanding the right to choose their own fate, spurred on by East Timor's example, by anger at military abuses and what they see as Jakarta siphoning of Aceh's resources wealth.
The staunchly Moslem province on the northwest tip of Sumarta is a major source of Indonesia's oil and gas income and also has significant supplies of gold, silver, timber and rubber. It has long resisted rule by outsiders.
Last week, 500,000 people rallied in the provincial capital Banda Aceh demanding a referendum in Indonesia's largest separatist protest.