Aceh rebels attack Exxon-Mobil airfield<\/p>\n
BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Separatist rebels in Aceh province shot
\nand wounded two employees of the multinational company Exxon-
\nMobil Inc. in an attack on an airfield run by the company in
\nLhokseumawe on Friday, officials said.<\/p>\n
Police said that a chartered plane operated by PT Pelita Air
\nService was attacked by two unidentified men shortly after it
\nlanded at the airfield in the North Aceh industrial city 7:45
\na.m. local time.<\/p>\n
Aceh Police chief Brig. Gen. Bachrumsyah Kasman identified the
\ntwo employees as Prisman Simanjuntak, 35 and Jamaluddin, 40.<\/p>\n
Both suffered minor injuries, with Prisman shot in his right
\nhand and Jamaluddin in the left shoulder.<\/p>\n
According to a senior officer at the company, formerly known
\nas Mobil Oil Indonesia, both men were being treated at a clinic
\nwithin the compound.<\/p>\n
\"The airfield will resume its operations as usual, but it is
\nquite disturbing as we have only one plane left. We certainly
\ncannot use the one with bullet holes in it,\" the officer said.<\/p>\n
Bachrumsyah stated that the two gunmen sprayed bullets from a
\nspeeding motorcycle outside the runaway gate 200 meters from the
\nplane. The attack left seven bullet holes in the plane.<\/p>\n
Police speculated the armed men used AK-47 or M-16
\nsemiautomatic rifles.<\/p>\n
The company employees were wounded while still inside the
\nplane. The other 15 people on board were not hurt, according to
\nBachrumsyah.<\/p>\n
The gunmen have not been apprehended yet.<\/p>\n
Quoting witnesses, Lilawangsa Military Commander Col. Syafnil
\nArmen identified one of the attackers as a member of the Free
\nAceh Movement (GAM) rebel group, locally known as the Jaelani
\ngang.<\/p>\n
He said the gunmen were driving a Honda Astrea motorcycle
\nbearing the license plate number BL 6310 HP.<\/p>\n
The airfield, which has a 1,800-meter-long and 30-meter-wide
\nrunaway, is located within the company compound in Nibong village
\nof Tanah Luas district in Lhoksukon, 20 kilometers east of
\nLhokseumawe. It normally has two flights every day.<\/p>\n
Most of company's employees reside in Medan, the capital of
\nneighboring North Sumatra province, for security reasons.<\/p>\n
They fly daily from Medan-base Polonia airfield to Lhoksukon.<\/p>\n
Exxon-Mobil Indonesia operates one of the country's largest
\ngasfields in Arun.<\/p>\n
GAM spokesman Ismail Syahputra said the attack was originally
\naimed at security forces guarding the site. He added that the two
\nemployees were hit by stray bullets.<\/p>\n
He said GAM was not responsible for any attack on the
\ncompany's facilities or any casualties resulting from the
\nviolence.<\/p>\n
\"We have repeatedly warned the company's management not to
\nplace any TNI personnel in their compound,\" Ismail said.<\/p>\n
Earlier on Feb. 5 an armed gang attacked and burned the
\nterminal at Malikussaleh airfield, which serves the Arun
\ngasfields, about 45 kilometers west of Lhokseumawe.<\/p>\n
Malikussaleh, a special airfield located at Pintoe Weu
\nvillage, is jointly managed by state oil company Pertamina and PT
\nArun. Following the attack on Friday all flights were temporarily
\nmoved to Malikussaleh. (50\/edt\/sur)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/aceh-rebels-attack-exxon-mobil-airfield-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}