Jakarta (AsiaNews) – Christian politicians have hit out at a bill submitted by the Justice and Peace Party (PKS, with Muslim leanings) to apply Sharia (Islamic law) to all residents of Aceh province, regardless of their religious beliefs.

The bill is part of deliberations to draw up legislation to govern Aceh (Ruu Pa) following the signing of the Helsinki peace agreement in August 2005 between Jakarta and separatists of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).

The Christian Peace and Prosperous Party (PDS) was quick to clarify that "Islamic courts have no authority to judge cases of non Muslim citizens." The debate took place yesterday during a special parliament session attended by the State Secretary Yuzril Ihza Mahendra. Rufinus Sianutri, PDS spokesman, said: "The PKS positions are too far from ours and we cannot accept that Sharia be applied across the board, including to non Muslim residents of Aceh."

Nationalist parties, like the Indonesian Democratic Party Struggle (PDIP) of the former president Megawati Sukarnoputri, have expressed full support for the PDS objections. The Democratic Party of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has also taken the same stand.

Golkar, the party of the deputy president Jusuf Kalla, suggested a "compromise" solution: Islamic law should be applied to non Muslim Acehnese who have committed crimes against Muslim residents, or are involved in cases regarding the latter. Backing the Golkar proposal are some moderate Muslim factions, like the People's Awakening Party, led by the ex president, Abdurrahman Gus Dur Wahid.

Many groups of residents of the province, including the so-called Supporters for the Establishment for South West Aceh Province (ABAS) have criticised the draft law for "not corresponding with the aspirations of Aceh residents as regards pluralism".

Members of the PDIP and ABAS have called a protest rally. Some politicians say a law to govern Aceh poses a threat to national unity, enshrined in the Pancasila, the five leading principles of the country.

In 2001, Jakarta gave Aceh province the go-ahead to enforce Sharia. The only province to do so, it also set up an Islamic court in 2003.