GAM district, police chiefs arrested<\/p>\n
A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Lhokseumawe, Aceh<\/p>\n
Soldiers captured on Friday two alleged Free Aceh Movement (GAM)
\nseparatists who acted as the rebels' district chief and police
\nchief for the GAM district Tangse in the village of Pulo Kawah in
\nPidie regency.<\/p>\n
A joint unit of the 315th Infantry Battalion and the local
\nPidie military command arrested the two and an alleged GAM tax
\ncollector, said the Pidie military commander Lt. Col. Supartodi.<\/p>\n
The three were nabbed as they were holding a meeting at the
\n"district chief's" house, Supartodi said, adding that the arrest
\nwas made possible through a tip off by the locals.<\/p>\n
He said that Marwan, 45, was a GAM district chief, Rusdi, 40,
\nthe police chief and Muin, 50, the district's tax collector.<\/p>\n
Friday's arrest marks the first report of a captured GAM
\ndistrict chief during the six weeks of military operation crush
\nthe movement.<\/p>\n
In GAM strongholds found in regencies like Pidie and Bireuen,
\nthe rebels have established an organization that mimics the
\ngovernment's existing structure at the local levels.<\/p>\n
In some districts where support for independence is strong,
\ngovernment officials often fail to function properly and GAM
\nvirtually run these areas.<\/p>\n
However, what is referred to as GAM police are often civilians
\nacting as spies for the rebels reporting about troops movements.<\/p>\n
In an attempt to end the conflict within short period, the
\nIndonesian Military (TNI) intensified on Friday their search for
\nGAM members across the province.<\/p>\n
In East Aceh's Idi Rayeuk district, TNI troops led by Lt. Col.
\nEchsan Sutardji tightened their encirclement of about 200 alleged
\nGAM members in Jamo Campli area, located a few kilometers from
\nBlang Rambong village. GAM commander Hasballah is believed to be
\nleading the rebel group.<\/p>\n
Echsan told reporters at his command post in Blang Rambong
\nthat they tried to cut GAM's logistical support.<\/p>\n
"We are intensifying patrols, so that they cannot ask for food
\nfrom surrounding villagers," said Echsan, who comes from the
\nWonoadi Infantry Battalion in Southeast Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
During Thursday's raid for GAM members in Blang Rambong's
\nsurrounding areas, soldiers found several documents in one of the
\nhomes. They also found several photographs, depicting pictures of
\nGAM military training in the area early this year.,<\/p>\n
Soldiers found notebooks containing tax collection reports
\nfrom several companies in the are. These include a plantation
\ncompany PT Bumi Flora, which paid between Rp 19 million (about
\nUS$1,850) to Rp 36 million per week.<\/p>\n
During the search, soldiers also found an ID card belonging to
\nAlamsyah Puteh. TNI has accused GAM of collecting ID cards from
\nlocals in an attempt to better melt into the local population.
\nGAM members normally do not own ID cards, and TNI said that it
\nwould consider anyone without an ID card as a possible GAM rebel.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere in the Alu Dua area in North Aceh, soldiers led by
\nLt. Col. Rimbo Karyono found GAM properties in a house belonging
\nto Rahmawati, whose husband, Ismail Ghani, is suspected of being
\na GAM member.<\/p>\n
In the Juli Satoe subdistrict in Bireun regency, marines and
\nthe police's mobile brigade troops (Brimob) raided the house of
\ntwo alleged GAM tax collectors, Tengku Nurdin and Ridwan.<\/p>\n
Separately, GAM members allegedly burned down a community
\nhealth center in the village of Pulo in Meuredu district in Pidie
\nregency on Thursday night.<\/p>\n
Five GAM members are also accused of burning down a bus in
\nPidie, injuring four passengers.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gam-district-police-chiefs-arrested-1447893297",
"image": ""
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