71 alleged rebels to be charged with treason<\/p>\n
Nani Farida and Aan Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh\/Lhokseumawe<\/p>\n
While the military offensive to crush the armed rebellion in Aceh
\ncontinues, legal action against alleged separatists started on
\nWednesday with at least 71 suspects facing charges of treason.<\/p>\n
The police in Banda Aceh said that so far they had handed over
\nevidence on the 71 suspects' involvement in separatist activities
\nto the local prosecutor's office.<\/p>\n
Provincial police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Sayed Husainy said
\nthat the 71 rebels who were detained in the city and several
\nregencies in the province would be charged with trying to topple
\nthe legitimate government, as well as armed criminal activity.<\/p>\n
Most of the suspects and detainees have been interrogated both
\nby the police and the military without being accompanied by
\nlawyers. Only a very few of them actually expressly waived their
\nright to have a lawyer by their side.<\/p>\n
The police statement made it clear that the suspects would
\nstand trial in the district court. This follows widespread rumors
\nthat they would be indicted under the antiterrorism law, which
\ncarries the death penalty.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of other alleged rebels and GAM supporters who have
\nbeen arrested since the military offensive to quell the
\nseparatist movement was launched on May 19 are still undergoing
\nmilitary interrogation in Banda Aceh, while, according to the
\npolice, those voluntarily surrendering to the security
\nauthorities were being subjected to \"special indoctrination\"
\nbefore being set free.<\/p>\n
Among the alleged GAM supporters in detention are a number of
\ncivil servants and councillors, who the authorities say
\npolitically and financially supported the armed rebellion, which
\nhas lasted for around 26 years and claimed more than 12,000
\nlives.<\/p>\n
The government, which has deployed around 40,000 military and
\npolice personnel to Aceh, claims at least ten more rebels were
\nkilled on Wednesday in separate clashes with security forces in
\nthe province. This follows a claim that 18 rebels were killed on
\nTuesday and 12 others over the weekend.<\/p>\n
According to military figures, a total of 403 rebels had been
\nkilled and more than 800 others arrested as of Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Military operation spokesman Lt. Col Ahmad Yani Basuki said
\nthe ten rebels had been killed in six clashes in five different
\nregencies.<\/p>\n
Despite earlier claims that it controlled 100% of Aceh, the
\nmilitary now says it only controls 75 percent of Aceh's
\nterritory, but continues to insist that it has the support of the
\nmajority of Aceh's four million people in its effort to crush the
\nseparatist movement.<\/p>\n
\"The results of our evaluation so far shows that the TNI has
\nput 800 rebels who were killed or arrested out of action, and
\nmost of GAM's physical and non-physical facilities have been
\ndestroyed,\" Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu said in
\nBandung, West Java, on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Despite these claims, he nevertheless said the war would
\nlikely last for a long time to come as the military was facing
\nguerrillas who were staging an armed rebellion in inaccessible
\nareas.<\/p>\n
\"Of the most importance is that we have won the Acehnese
\npeople's support because more and more people are daring to
\noppose the separatist movement,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/71-alleged-rebels-to-be-charged-with-treason-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}