GAM rebels vow to step up activities<\/p>\n
BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels pledged
\nto step up their activities in the province and called on the
\ncivilians only to use public transportation as personal vehicles
\nwould be a target for ambushes.<\/p>\n
GAM commander Tengku Abdullah Syafi'ie warned locals only to
\nuse public transportation instead of private or military vehicles
\nfor their activities so as to differ between civilians and
\nsecurity personnel.<\/p>\n
\"This call was based on reaction to the fact that security
\nforces have launched massive sweeping operations in Aceh,\"
\nAbdullah said.<\/p>\n
\"We do not want to sacrifice civilians in our operations,\"
\nAbdullah said, adding that GAM would continue to make retaliatory
\nattacks against security personnel for their alleged atrocities
\nin Aceh.<\/p>\n
Separately, Lilawangsa Military chief Col. Syafnil Armen said
\npeople were free to move about as they wished and should not be
\ndeterred by threats from rebels.<\/p>\n
\"Such a threat is a manifestation of human rights violations
\nand need not be followed,\" Syafnil said in a media statement.<\/p>\n
There have been almost daily reports of personal and official
\nvehicles being ambushed or hijacked in recent weeks.<\/p>\n
Military and police personnel regularly recover the vehicles
\nafter conducting massive security sweeps in the area.<\/p>\n
The province has been restive for several months as calls for
\nindependence have grown.<\/p>\n
GAM has launched almost daily ambushes and raids against
\nsecurity personnel stationed in Aceh.<\/p>\n
The military has been the primary target of such attacks as
\nthey are perceived to be responsible for the numerous human
\nrights violations during the decade-long military operations
\nimposed in the province.<\/p>\n
Fear<\/p>\n
As of Tuesday, intensive security sweeps continued to be
\nconducted by police and military officers in Pidie, South Aceh,
\nWest Aceh, North Aceh as well as the capital of Banda Aceh.<\/p>\n
Residents seem to be heeding the rebel warnings and prefer to
\nuse public transportation for fear of possible attacks or raids.<\/p>\n
Other than public vans and buses, very few personal vehicles
\nwere seen traveling along the main highways of Banda Aceh-Medan
\nand Banda Aceh-Tapak Tuan.<\/p>\n
Few motorists passed the Banda Aceh-Sigli route on Tuesday.
\n\"We do not want to take any risks,\" said one local.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Aceh Police chief Brig. Gen. Bachrumsyah expressed
\nregret on Tuesday over Sunday's incident in Lhoksukon, North Aceh
\nin which three journalists from the private television station
\nRCTI, APTN and Reuters were assaulted by police officers and
\nhad their cameras confiscated.<\/p>\n
The journalists reportedly were about to take pictures of a
\nfire during Sunday's armed rebel attack on a police post in
\nLhoksukon when a group of officers harshly intervened.<\/p>\n
\"We told them we were journalists but they kept treating us
\nharshly,\" RCTI's Umar H.N. recounted on Monday.<\/p>\n
Aceh Police spokesman Lt. Col. Sayed Husaini promised to
\ninvestigate the incident.<\/p>\n
\"We will settle the matter properly.\"<\/p>\n
Violence, however, continued to occur in West Aceh as four
\nunidentified bodies were reportedly found in the Kuala district
\non Friday. The bodies were taken to Meulaboh Hospital.<\/p>\n
\"The remains of the four who died of gunshot wounds were
\nclaimed by their families on Sunday,\" Meulaboh Hospital's
\ndirector Teuku Amir said. (50\/edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gam-rebels-vow-to-step-up-activities-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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