Four people killed, helicopters fired on in Aceh encounters<\/p>\n
Agencies, Banda Aceh, Aceh<\/p>\n
At least three suspected rebels and one military personnel were
\nkilled in armed encounters between government troops and the Free
\nAceh Movement (GAM) on Tuesday and Wednesday, a striking reminder
\nthat peace was slipping away quickly in Aceh.<\/p>\n
Also on Wednesday, two military helicopters were fired on
\nwhile monitoring the situation above Lhokseumawe, North Aceh.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Military (TNI) spokesman Lt. Col. Firdaus Komarno
\naccused the separatist movement of being behind the shooting,
\nwhich, according to military spokesman Col. J. Nachrowi, damaged
\nthe helicopters, but the pilots made emergency landings.<\/p>\n
\"We are concerned that the situation is getting worse,\"
\nNachrowi told AFP.<\/p>\n
GAM quickly denied the allegation, saying that it was a
\nstrategy of the TNI to discredit GAM and to justify plans for a
\nmilitary operation in Aceh.<\/p>\n
GAM deputy spokesman Isnandar Al Pase Isnandar said it was
\ndifficult for GAM to shoot at the helicopters with the presence
\nof military posts in the location.<\/p>\n
Even if GAM intended to shoot the helicopters, Isnandar added,
\nit would not use AK-47 automatic rifles, but modern antiaircraft
\narmor.<\/p>\n
Also on Wednesday, rebels killed a soldier in a raid on a
\nmilitary post in a remote area of West Aceh, said Aceh military
\nspokesman Maj. Eddy Fernandi.<\/p>\n
Police killed three suspected rebels in a gunfight on Tuesday
\nat Paya Kolak in Central Aceh, said local police chief Adj. Sr.
\nCom. Bambang Prayitno. Police seized six kilograms of hashish
\nfrom the rebels, he said.<\/p>\n
A GAM spokesman, Amri Abdul Wahab, denied that the victims
\nwere rebels. Amri described military claims that the three were
\ngunrunners as \"cheap propaganda\".<\/p>\n
Security has continued to worsen over the past few weeks with
\nthe government persistently accusing GAM of reneging on a peace
\nagreement signed in December 2002. Peace pact monitors were
\nwithdrawn from field offices last week.<\/p>\n
The government has called for a meeting of the Joint Council,
\na final arbiter on the peace agreement, and says it will launch
\nan all-out war unless the council can settle disputes over the
\npact.<\/p>\n
The council groups government and rebel leaders with mediators
\nfrom the Swiss-based Henry Dunant Centre (HDC). The center is
\ntrying to get the two sides to agree to a date and place for the
\nmeeting.<\/p>\n
Apart from the alleged ceasefire violations, the government
\ndemands that the rebels stop campaigning for independence --
\nwhich is not provided for in the pact.<\/p>\n
Firdaus said on Wednesday that the TNI would wait for the
\nresults of the meeting before launching any military operations.<\/p>\n
\"If the meeting fails to reach an agreement, a military
\nemergency status will be imposed throughout Aceh,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Marines killed on Monday three suspected rebel gunrunners in a
\ngunfight at sea off East Aceh, the military said. The soldiers
\nsaid they found 12 assault rifles and thousands of rounds on the
\nguerrillas' boat.<\/p>\n
At least 35 people have been killed in the past nine days in
\nthe province.<\/p>\n
A company of the Army's Special Force (Kopassus) soldiers
\narrived in Aceh on Tuesday to replace another company which had
\nbeen withdrawn.<\/p>\n
Nearly 2,000 combat troops arrived in North Aceh on Wednesday
\nas security in the resource-rich province deteriorated.<\/p>\n
The 26-year separatist insurgency has killed an estimated
\n10,000 people, mainly civilians.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/four-people-killed-helicopters-fired-on-in-aceh-encounters-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}