Four rebels killed in restive Aceh<\/p>\n
BANDA ACEH, Aceh: At least four rebels of the Free Aceh
\nMovement (GAM) were killed in the latest armed clash between the
\nseparatist guerrillas and military forces in Aceh Besar regency
\non Wednesday, official and Red Cross sources said.<\/p>\n
Military spokesman Lt. Col. Firdaus confirmed later on
\nWednesday that a GAM operational commander in Aceh Besar,
\nidentified as Nurdin Sidom, 31, was among the casualties.<\/p>\n
\"We also seized three guns from the rebels shortly after the
\ngun battle. The other dead rebel was identified as Suwandi, 25,
\nwhile the identities of the other two remained unknown,\" the
\nofficial said.<\/p>\n
The four bodies, all bearing gunshot wounds, were evacuated by
\nthe Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) from the site of the clash at Mee
\nvillage in Indarpuri district in Aceh Besar regency, some 25
\nkilometers east of Banda Aceh.<\/p>\n
\"The bodies were taken to Zainoel Abdin General Hospital in
\nBanda Aceh,\" PMI's Fauzi Husaini said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, three regencies, North Aceh, East Aceh and Bireun,
\nwere hit by power blackouts following an act of sabotage on power
\nsupply equipment in East Aceh, officer Firdaus said.<\/p>\n
According to the officer, a group of gunmen, believed to be
\nGAM members, seriously damaged an electricity tower in East Aceh,
\ncausing the power black out in the three regencies.<\/p>\n
\"This is an act of sabotage by GAM members,\" the officer
\nclaimed. No GAM spokesmen were available for comment.<\/p>\n
Violence in Aceh has claimed at least 1,300 lives this year,
\nmostly civilians caught in clashes between separatist rebels and
\nsecurity forces.<\/p>\n
GAM rebels have been fighting for an independent Islamic State
\nsince the mid-1970's. The central government under President
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri has flatly rejected demands for
\nseparation, and has awarded Aceh special autonomy status. --JP<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/four-rebels-killed-in-restive-aceh-1447893297",
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