ExxonMobile monitors situation after threat<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Responding to statements by separatist rebels in
\nAceh that ExxonMobile Oil Indonesia should shut down its
\noperations in the province for its own safety, the company said
\non Thursday it was \"closely monitoring the situation\".<\/p>\n
\"We are monitoring the situation in Aceh closely and will take
\nactions we deem appropriate for the daily circumstances in our
\noperational areas,\" the company said in a statement made
\navailable to The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
The company added that \"the safety and well-being of our
\nemployees and contractors remains our highest priority\".<\/p>\n
\"ExxonMobile believes the status of Aceh within Indonesia is a
\nmatter for the Indonesian people to resolve, and our hope it that
\na resolution would be accomplished in a peaceful, timely manner,\"
\nthe company said.<\/p>\n
The statement went on to say: \"We are hopeful that the
\nsituation in Aceh will stabilize.\"<\/p>\n
Separatist rebels in Aceh said on Wednesday they had warned
\nthe U.S.-based company to leave the region for its own safety.<\/p>\n
\"We have urged the top management of ExxonMobile to leave Aceh
\nimmediately, because we cannot guarantee their safety if Jakarta
\nimposes a state of emergency in Aceh,\" Abu Sofyan Daud, the North
\nAceh-based military commander of the separatist Free Aceh
\nMovement (GAM), was quoted by AFP as saying.<\/p>\n
\"We cannot be held responsible for any damage suffered by
\nMobil Oil in the event that we attack Indonesian soldiers in the
\ncompany's complex,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Abu Sofyan said foreign investors in the resource-rich
\nprovince could return to Aceh once it gained independence from
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
\"We call on them to stop exploiting Aceh's land for the
\nbenefit of the colonialist government in Jakarta, while our
\npeople are starving and killed by Indonesian security forces,\"
\nAbu Sofyan said.<\/p>\n
He accused Indonesian military troops and police of misusing
\n\"facilities\" provided by the company, ostensibly for the
\ncompany's security, to quash separatist rebels.<\/p>\n
In the past two years separatist rebels have mounted several
\nattacks on the company's facilities in the province.<\/p>\n
The company temporarily halted exploration and administrative
\nactivities at its headquarters in Lhoksukon, North Aceh, in May
\ndue to security concerns.<\/p>\n
Some employees reportedly received threats, including
\nanonymous telephone calls warning their housing complexes would
\nbe burned down.<\/p>\n
The company's compounds in Matangkuli and Lhoksukon have
\nreceived arson and bomb threats over the past several weeks.<\/p>\n
Violence in Aceh remains unabated despite a humanitarian pause
\nsigned by the government and GAM representatives in May. The
\npause was extended for three months in September.<\/p>\n
The two sides are due to meet in Geneva at the end of the week
\nto discuss the humanitarian pause, but top Indonesian officials
\nhave said they do not wish to reextend the accord.<\/p>\n
But some locals in Banda Aceh are still expressing hope the
\ntalks will bring peace to the troubled province.<\/p>\n
\"We hope not too much violence will take place this year,\" the
\nchairman of Muhhamadiyah in Aceh, Imam Suja', said.<\/p>\n
\"Do not sacrifice the people,\" he added.<\/p>\n
The Forum for Human Rights Awareness in Aceh put the death
\ntoll in the province in 2000 at 951 -- 763 civilians, 135
\nsecurity officers and 53 rebels from the Free Aceh Movement.<\/p>\n
At least 1,270 others were injured and 410 remain missing.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, three bodies were discovered in East Timur and
\nAceh Besar -- one each in Arakundo River, Semanthok village and
\nCot Iri.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the deputy spokesman of the Cinta Meunasah police
\noperation, Adj. Chief Comr. Yatim Suyatmo renewed his warning for
\nall people to turn in illegal firearms.<\/p>\n
He said a thorough house-to-house search for firearms would
\ntake place on Jan. 16, a day after the humanitarian pause
\nexpires.(50\/edt\/lup\/byg)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/exxonmobile-monitors-situation-after-threat-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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