GAM denies responsibility for helicopter shootings<\/p>\n
BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Leader of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM)
\nseparatist rebels in North Aceh Abu Sofyan Daud denied
\nallegations that GAM was behind Tuesday's shootings of
\nhelicopters carrying the entourage of the Minister of Energy and
\nMineral Resources inspecting Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
\noperations in Aceh.<\/p>\n
\"We deny responsibility for the helicopter incident,\" Abu told
\nmedia on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\"It would have been impossible for our troops to breach the
\narea because the military had set up a cordon around the area
\nwhere the choppers were shot at,\" Abu said.<\/p>\n
He further said the incident \"was an attempt to defame GAM\".
\n\"The shootings were clearly carried out by security officers to
\ndefame us,\" Abu said.<\/p>\n
Separately, spokesman of Cinta Meunasah II operation Adj. Sr.
\nComr. Harunantyo revealed that police have identified two 5.56
\nmillimeter projectiles found in the helicopters.<\/p>\n
\"The bullets were shot from M-16 and AK-47 rifles,\" the
\nofficer told The Jakarta Post by phone.<\/p>\n
He said both helicopters were within the firing range of GAM,
\nwhich is about three kilometers away from Malikussaleh Airport.<\/p>\n
The incident is evidence of GAM commander Tengku Abdullah
\nSyafi'ie's lack of grip on his troops, the officer said.<\/p>\n
\"It's hard for him (Abdullah) to control the rebels as most of
\nthe recruits are hoodlums, illegal brokers or vigilantes. GAM's
\nDarwis Jeunib, for instance, has long been known as a ticket
\nscalper.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, police and residents on Wednesday reported another
\nseven deaths in Aceh.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, Asmara Nababan, secretary-general of the National
\nCommission on Human Rights, queried the government's argument to
\ncarry out a military operation in Aceh at a time when the
\nsituation in the area is considered \"normal\".<\/p>\n
\"We think it better to deploy more police officers there as
\nall problems started from the military operations in the early
\n1990s,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Also in Jakarta, Coordinating Minister for Political, Social
\nand Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Wednesday
\nthat the government would not change its policy on Aceh.<\/p>\n
\"Media statements that we will simply conduct a military
\noperation is not true, since we are preparing six agendas in
\nfinding the solution for Aceh's problems, including a military
\napproach,\" Susilo said while addressing foreign ambassadors and
\nofficials of international organizations on the latest
\ndevelopments in Indonesia, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.<\/p>\n
Susilo was accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi
\nShihab, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo
\nYusgiantoro, director-general for political affairs of the
\nforeign ministry Nur Hasan Wirayudha, and deputy chief of the
\nIndonesian Military (TNI) Strategic Intelligence Body (Bais) Maj.
\nGen. Tulus Sihombing.<\/p>\n
Speaking about the limited security operation, Susilo said the
\nobjective is only to crush the Aceh Separatist Movement (GSA).<\/p>\n
Responding to a question by South Korean Ambassador Hong Jung
\nPyo about the government's wish for giant oil and gas firm
\nExxonMobil to resume operations, Susilo said the limited security
\noperation was also to protect and secure the vital natural gas
\nresources there. ExxonMobil has halted its operations since March
\n9 on security grounds.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Minister of Defense Mahfud M.D. said that Tuesday's
\nshooting incident had persuaded the government and the President
\nto immediately conduct a limited military operation in Aceh.<\/p>\n
\"We are sure that certain people in GAM will never change
\ntheir intentions. We urge the President to immediately issue an
\ninstruction for the operation,\" Mahfud told reporters after
\nattending a hearing with the House of Representatives on
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
Separately, National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro said
\nthe police still hold the lead over security troops in Aceh.<\/p>\n
\"The security status of the province is currently a civil
\nmatter, so the military personnel there are still under the
\njurisdiction of the police,\" Bimantoro said. (02\/50\/edt\/bby\/dja)<\/p>",
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