20,000 Aceh refugees flee sanctuary<\/p>\n
BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Almost all of the approximately 20,000
\nrefugees who sought shelter at Point-A area of the Exxon-Oil
\nairport compound in Tanah Luas district of North Aceh were gone
\non Wednesday afternoon.<\/p>\n
Witnesses said security forces cajoled refugees to return by
\nsurrounding the area and firing warning shots into the air the
\nnight before.<\/p>\n
Around 2,815 families had been staying there in makeshift
\ntents after they fled their homes in Tanah Luas and Matangkuli
\ndistricts.<\/p>\n
They fled their homes because of growing tension due to
\nnumerous armed clashes in the area.<\/p>\n
Witnesses said the refugees were terrified as sounds of
\ngunfire were heard around 6 p.m. Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\"They first tried to persuade the people to return home of
\ntheir own volition. But later in the day, right after sunset, the
\ntroops fired shots into the air and we all hid in our tents,\"
\nNurhamah, a house wife from Blang Jruen, recounted her
\nexperience.<\/p>\n
The last large group of around 2,000 refugees left the Exxon-
\nOil compound on Wednesday afternoon.<\/p>\n
Many were seen returning on foot; others went by whatever
\nvehicles were available.<\/p>\n
\"Never before in my life have I felt so scared and sad to be
\ndriven away like some kind of animal,\" Nurhamah added.<\/p>\n
Police earlier claimed that residents had fled their homes due
\nto rampant terror and propaganda from the Free Aceh Movement
\n(GAM) separatist rebels, who used the people as shields for their
\nactivities.<\/p>\n
But Deputy commander of GAM in North Aceh, Abu Sofyan Daud, on
\nWednesday denied the allegations.<\/p>\n
\"Troops keep on launching security sweeps and many have died
\nas a result. The humanitarian pause seems only to work for the
\ngovernment, but not for us and the people,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in Jakarta about 600 marines from the Cilandak
\nInfantry Brigade 2 were preparing to leave for Aceh next Monday.<\/p>\n
TNI Spokesman Vice Marshal Graito Usodo said the battalion was
\nbeing sent to replace colleagues who have been stationed there
\nfor six months.<\/p>\n
The new dispatch of marines will be placed on the eastern
\ncoast of Aceh to prevent infiltration of weapons into the
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
They will be guarding a 460 kilometer coastline which is
\ndivided into 19 guard posts. (50\/edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/20000-aceh-refugees-flee-sanctuary-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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