Fresh batch of troops arrive in Aceh amid growing tension<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Lhokseumawe, Aceh<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Military (TNI) undertook a troop rotation in Aceh
\non Tuesday, with a fresh batch of soldiers landing at the Krueng
\nGeukeuh Seaport in Lhokseumawe.<\/p>\n
Iskandar Muda Military Commander Maj. Gen. Djali Yusuf warned
\nthe new troops of the worsening security situation in the
\nconflict-ridden province of Aceh.<\/p>\n
The 1,427 TNI personnel, including intelligence officers, will
\nsoon be taking up their new posts in several areas of Aceh,
\nincluding the strife-torn North Aceh and East Aceh regencies, the
\nmilitary spokesman in Aceh, Maj. Zaenal Muttaqin, said.<\/p>\n
The troops are replacing 1,425 soldiers who have completed
\none-year tours in the province. These departing soldiers are
\nscheduled to leave Aceh this Friday, aboard the KRI Teluk Manado
\nnaval ship.<\/p>\n
Following a ceremony to welcome the new soldiers, Djali told
\njournalists the province of Aceh was like a \"hidden shadow of
\n(rebel) activities that is terrifying its own people\".<\/p>\n
He added that he would continue to use the might of his
\nsoldiers to paralyze the activities of armed separatist rebels
\nfrom the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), but that this would not be
\npossible without the help of the Acehnese people.<\/p>\n
\"Does the public want to continue living as objects of
\nextortion to be used by GAM? I have repeatedly asked the people
\nof East Aceh, West Aceh and other parts of Aceh to become one,
\nand to fight against the acts of terror that have them so
\nfrightened,\" Djali said.<\/p>\n
He added that he was not worried about the imposition of a
\nstate of civil emergency, adding his men were ready to fight
\nprovocateurs and rebels in any security condition.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, gunfire has continued across the rebellious
\nprovince of Aceh, with at least eight deaths recorded over the
\nlast three days, the local police, military and aid workers said.<\/p>\n
Muttaqin said on Tuesday that soldiers shot dead three rebels
\nand seized two AK-47 firearms and a home-made bomb in two
\nseparate clashes on Monday in North Aceh regency.<\/p>\n
Two of the victims, Zakaria Harun, 26, and Dahlan, 29, who
\nwere identified as Free Aceh Movement (GAM) members, were killed
\nin an exchange of gunfire at Meunasah Dayah village in Kuta
\nMakmur subdistrict.<\/p>\n
A second clash took place in Gampong Gunting village in the
\nsubdistrict of Jambo Aye, in which TNI troops shot dead another
\nalleged GAM member, Syaiful Hasyim, 25.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, five bodies with gunshot wounds were found on
\nSunday and Monday in separate locations, police and Indonesian
\nRed Cross (PMI) volunteers said.<\/p>\n
Red Cross worker Muslim Tanjung told The Jakarta Post that the
\nbody of Mursal, an 18-year-old male, was found on Monday behind
\nthe Syiah Kuala University's School of Engineering building in
\nBanda Aceh, the provincial capital.<\/p>\n
Earlier on Sunday, the Red Cross discovered another victim of
\na shooting on the roadside of the Seunapet area, Aceh Besar
\nregency, Muslim added.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/fresh-batch-of-troops-arrive-in-aceh-amid-growing-tension-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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