Acehnese gear up for mass gathering<\/p>\n
BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): With the Acehnese mass gathering
\napproaching, more people are heading to the capital of Banda
\nAceh, leaving many areas in the strife-torn province paralyzed
\nand unguarded, residents said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\"Banda Aceh is getting busier as thousands of people from
\nacross the province have arrived and many more are coming in to
\njoin the gathering,\" said Muhammad Harun, a leading figure from
\nLaweung village, Pidie regency in Banda Aceh's Lambada seaport,
\nsome 10 kilometers east of here.<\/p>\n
Another resident said some 1,500 Laweung residents arrived on
\nMonday in eight motorboats as the roads were heavily guarded by
\nsecurity personnel. Security personnel are stopping people and
\npublic transportation from entering the capital.<\/p>\n
\"Security personnel were seen on the streets, forcing people
\nto return home,\" the resident, who refused to be named, said.<\/p>\n
Tension rose on Tuesday as hundreds of police personnel fired
\nwarning shots to disperse some 100 visiting boats carrying
\nthousands of residents from across the province as they attempted
\nto dock at the Lampulo fishing port on Krueng Aceh river, Banda
\nAceh.<\/p>\n
The residents had earlier ignored orders from the police, who
\nwere overseeing the Krueng Aceh river area, not to pass across
\nthe river into Banda Aceh. They later decided to remain in their
\nboats as police reinforcements had blockaded the river port.<\/p>\n
The warning shots panicked shoppers at nearby Peunayong
\nmarket, forcing traders to close their shops early.<\/p>\n
The mass gathering, organized by the Information Center for
\nAceh Referendum (CIRA), is slated to be held on Nov. 11 at the
\nBaiturrahman Grand Mosque in Banda Aceh to commemorate the first
\nanniversary of the call for a referendum and to foster unity and
\nbrotherhood among the Acehnese. Last year's event was attended by
\nat least one million people.<\/p>\n
While calling on Acehnese to join the event, CIRA chairman
\nMuhammad Nazar vowed on Tuesday that the gathering would be a
\npeaceful one and attendees were not allowed to carry weapons.<\/p>\n
Market places in Banda Aceh were thronged with shoppers,
\nanticipating businesses to close before the event.<\/p>\n
Residents said enthusiasm to attend the gathering had
\nparalyzed activities in their hometowns, especially as no public
\ntransportation was operating, following an order issued by
\nsecurity authorities to cease public transportation services for
\na few days.<\/p>\n
Separately, Aceh Police special operation Cinta Meunasah
\nspokesman Sr. Supt. Kusbini Imbar said on Monday that the police
\nhave learned that the people were forced to attend the gathering.<\/p>\n
\"It's better for them to return home and resume their daily
\nactivities,\" he said, stressing that the police had no special
\nsecurity plans but they would remain alert.<\/p>\n
bisa potong<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, violence in Aceh broke out in two locations on
\nMonday, leaving a resident dead and injuring four security
\npersonnel.<\/p>\n
North Aceh Police precinct chief Supt. Abadan Bangko said on
\nTuesday that the four personnel were shot when 40 alleged members
\nof the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) ambushed two patrolling trucks of
\nsecurity personnel in Bugeng village, Peudada district, Bireuen
\nregency on Monday.<\/p>\n
The men, armed with AK-47 and M-16 rifles, initiated the
\nattack before they disappeared into the forest.<\/p>\n
Abadan said a few hours later, a group of civilians, armed
\nwith a grenade launcher, attacked the Samalanga Military
\nSubdistrict Command in Bireuen regency. No fatalities were
\nreported as the grenade missed the target and exploded some six
\nmeters away from the military headquarters.<\/p>\n
Kusbini said on Tuesday that security personnel had raided an
\nempty GAM headquarters in Sarang Jaya village, Hilir district,
\nEast Aceh regency. The police found and seized one Ruger semi
\nautomatic rifle, 88 bullets, a magazine (for holding bullet
\ncartridges) and a handy-talky.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Aceh Besar precinct chief Supt. Sayed Hoesainy said
\na resident of Darussalam village in Banda Aceh, named Sudaryanto,
\nwas killed by two thugs at his store in Gue Gajah village, Daruh
\nImarah district on Monday. The motive is unknown. (50\/lup)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/acehnese-gear-up-for-mass-gathering-1447893297",
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