GAM deputy chief charged with weapons possession<\/p>\n
MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): The Medan District Court, under
\nheavy security, began on Thursday the trial of Ligadinsyah, alias
\nAzis bin Ibrahim Linggo, believed to be the deputy commander of
\nthe Free Aceh Movement (GAM) for the Central Aceh area.<\/p>\n
In the 35-minute proceedings, prosecutor Nasril N. said that
\nLigadinsyah, along with the Central Aceh GAM commander Ilham I.
\nLeube, carried out subversive actions, aimed at separating Aceh
\nfrom the Republic of Indonesia, Antara reported.<\/p>\n
\"The defendant made speeches in Silih Nara district, became a
\nmilitary instructor for members of the separatist group, and told
\nhis members to raise funds for their operations in Central Aceh
\nregency,\" Nasril said in the indictment.<\/p>\n
The prosecutor charged Ligadinsyah under Emergency Law No.
\n12\/1951 on the illegal ownership of weapons and explosives, which
\ncarries a minimum punishment of 20 years imprisonment and a
\nmaximum penalty of death.<\/p>\n
Ligadinsyah, believed to have 14 followers, was arrested in
\nMedan on Jan. 9, when he bought a remote control device, to be
\nused as a controller for explosives.<\/p>\n
The prosecutor also said that the defendant owned two AK-47
\nrifles, three Beretta pistols, two M-16 rifles, one SS-1, four
\nColt pistols, an FN pistol, and five grenades.<\/p>\n
\"All the weapons and explosives were obtained from his
\ncommander Ilyas I Luebe,\" Nasril said in his seven-page
\nindictment.<\/p>\n
In Thursday's trial, the defendant was not accompanied by his
\nlawyers from Aceh as the latter had not been notified beforehand.<\/p>\n
Refugee<\/p>\n
Separately in West Aceh, some 3,150 migrant settlers in Alue
\nPanjang village in Kawai district left their houses and took
\nrefuge in government buildings in the district on late Wednesday,
\nfor fear of sudden arson attacks after what happened in their
\nneighboring village.<\/p>\n
Local administrative secretary for West Aceh regency Nyak Ali
\nUmar confirmed the incident and said that local government was
\ntrying to assure the migrants that their security was guaranteed.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in Meulaboh II, some 30 kilometers from Meulaboh,
\nthe capital city of West Aceh regency, an army soldier and two
\ncivilians were killed in a fierce gunfight.<\/p>\n
Chief of the West Aceh Regional Military Command Col. Endang
\nSuwarya confirmed the clash and said the incident took place when
\npatrolling army personnel were suddenly attacked by an armed
\ngroup late on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Endang added that the two unidentified civilians were members
\nof the armed group, suspected to be GAM members.<\/p>\n
However, GAM spokesman for West Aceh Abu Juwana said the two
\ncivilians victims were not rebels but local residents who had
\nbeen abducted by Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel during a
\nraid the previous day. (50\/emf)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gam-deputy-chief-charged-with-weapons-possession-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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