JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) -- Summoned before parliament to explain his policies for the first time, Indonesia's president Thursday defended his controversial plan to hold a referendum on the future of strife-torn Aceh province, and urged legislators to debate whether it should go ahead.
Many legislators fear a vote could trigger a wider breakup of Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous nation with 210 million people spread over 17,000 islands."I myself say there should be a referendum in Aceh. Differences of opinion will make Indonesia great in the future," President Abdurrahman Wahid said in a speech in the 500-member house. "Through debate we can have a good result. This is what we call reform."
Wahid, who is nearly blind, spoke without notes and punctuated his nationally televised address with jibes and jokes that received applause and laughter from lawmakers.
At one stage he likened parliament to "a kindergarten" and cajoled legislators for not comprehending his views.
Prior to speaking, Wahid circulated a blueprint for his planned referendum in Aceh. The plan was not made available to the media.
On Tuesday, during an official visit to Japan, Wahid said he wanted to hold a vote within seven months.
He said on Wednesday that such a ballot would not allow the residents of the province rich in oil and gas to opt for full independence, but only to choose whether to have greater autonomy within Indonesia.
Today was the first time Wahid had appeared before the legislators since they selected him as Indonesia's fourth head of state four weeks ago.
His decision to comply with their demand to explain his views was a democratic departure from the authoritarian past. Former leaders, particularly President Suharto, who ruled for 32 years, used the parliament merely as a legislative rubber stamp.
Dutch troops occupied Aceh a century ago after a long and bitter colonial war. After World War II, when Indonesia declared independence, Aceh was promised autonomy. Instead it became part of Indonesia.
Rebel fighters in Aceh, a region on the island of Sumatra, 1,110 miles northwest of the capital, Jakarta, have been struggling for independence for years.
More than 5,000 people have died or disappeared in the fighting since 1989, human rights activists say. They accuse the Indonesian military of committing widespread atrocities.
Leaders of the rebel Free Aceh Movement have threatened to continue their struggle until Aceh becomes independent like East Timor, which broke away from Indonesia after its people voted overwhelmingly for independence in a U.N.-supervised referendum on Aug. 30.
Last week an estimated 500,000 protested in the streets of the Aceh's capital, Banda Aceh, to demand a referendum of their own.
There have also been separatist movements in Irian Jaya, South Sulawesi and other regions.
Thousands of non-Acehnese have begun fleeing the province in fear of being targeted by rebel fighters.
But rebel leader Teungku Abdullah Syafiie told The Associated Press today that the insurgents were planning only to hold a series of peaceful pro-independence demonstrations.
"We never ordered the non-Acehnese to leave," he said.
Two weeks ago, in an effort to placate the separatist movement, Wahid ordered the military to withdraw the thousands of soldiers that had been sent to the province to combat the rebel fighters.
But the police and military, now with severely depleted numbers, are concerned they will no longer be able to cope with the rebels and are considering asking Jakarta to impose a state of emergency in the province, local media reported.