Explosions mar Independence Day festivities in Aceh<\/p>\n
LHOKSEUMAWE, North Aceh (JP): Red-and-white flags were flying
\nhigh along the streets here for Independence Day celebrations on
\nFriday, but most shops in the town were closed and business
\nactivities at a standstill.<\/p>\n
Only a few people came to observe a tightly guarded ceremony
\nheld in the town's Hiraq square, presided over by Regent Tarmizi
\nAkarim and attended by local dignitaries.<\/p>\n
An old man who sat near the location of the ceremony remained
\nsilent when asked by The Jakarta Post whether he came to
\nparticipate in the ceremony.<\/p>\n
Syaifudin Ilyas, speaker of the local legislative council,
\nsaid the people were afraid to show up at the square for fear of
\nbeing targeted by members of the separatist Free Aceh Movement
\n(GAM).<\/p>\n
"Just days before Independence Day, they (GAM members) have
\nterrorized the people with bomb attacks. They also set fire to
\nschools and lowered national flags," Syaifudin said.<\/p>\n
Syaifudin was referring to arson attacks on 43 school
\nbuildings in the regency, which were allegedly committed by GAM
\nmembers several days before Independence Day.<\/p>\n
Sulaeman, a guard at Ujung Belaga Inpres elementary school in
\nBanda Sakti subdistrict, said that some unidentified people had
\narrived at the school early on Tuesday morning and set fire to
\nit.<\/p>\n
"They (GAM) had demanded that the local administration excuse
\nstudents from school and other activities on Fridays as it is a
\nholiday for Muslim people. But since Aug. 17 falls on Friday and
\nthe regent demanded to hold a ceremony on that day, GAM got
\nangry," Sulaeman said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, prior to the ceremony, six homemade bombs and
\ngrenades exploded in several locations around the town, killing
\none man, identified as Bustami, 20, and injuring two other
\npeople, including a 12-year-old boy.<\/p>\n
Aceh Security Operation spokesman Col. Firdaus said the blasts
\nwere part of terrorist activities by GAM aimed at sabotaging
\nIndependence Day celebrations in Aceh.<\/p>\n
City and intercity public transportation was halted following
\na strike by drivers on Thursday. A number of public minivan
\ndrivers said that unidentified people threatened that if they did
\nnot go on strike their vehicles would be burnt or bombed.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in Jakarta, the government expressed its deep
\nconcern over the escalating tension in Aceh during the
\ncelebration of Independence Day, saying it would continue to use
\ndialogs to seek a comprehensive solution to problems in the
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister of Political and Security Affairs Susilo
\nBambang Yudhoyono accused certain parties of being behind the
\nrecent killing of plantation employees and the torching of school
\nbuildings in their attempt to attract international attention and
\nto disrupt the ongoing reconciliatory process with Acehnese
\nrepresentatives.<\/p>\n
"There have been certain parties who are not happy with the
\nsettlement between the government and Acehnese figures," he said
\nafter hearing President Megawati Soekarnoputri's speech before
\nthe House of Representatives' plenary session here on Thursday.<\/p>\n
He declined to identify the parties but reasserted that the
\ngovernment would continue to prioritize dialogs in seeking a
\npeaceful and comprehensive solution to the problems.<\/p>\n
"We will never give up; the problem in Aceh must be solved as
\nwell as possible," he said.<\/p>\n
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said the
\ngovernment was revising the comprehensive approach being employed
\nin Aceh as defined by Presidential Decree No. 4, issued in
\nJanuary 2001.<\/p>\n
"The government will place an emphasis on dialogs to seek a
\ncomprehensive solution. Besides the persuasive approach, we will
\nalso deploy troops to back up the police to restore security and
\norder in Aceh," he said.<\/p>\n
Hassan said rebels and armed supporters of the separatist
\nmovement should abandon their fight and return to their normal
\nlives to ease tension in the province.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, House Speaker Akbar Tandjung called on the
\ngovernment to take military-style repressive measures against the
\nseparatist movement in Aceh because the police would not be able
\nto defeat the rebellion.<\/p>\n
"It is no longer appropriate to deploy police to handle a
\nrebellion launched by the separatist movement, because their main
\ntask is to maintain security and enforce the law," he said.<\/p>\n
According to him, the tension in Aceh was not triggered by a
\nsocial clash but by a rebellion that must be tackled with a
\nmilitaristic approach. (tso\/rms)<\/p>",
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