GAM warns military against sweeping operations<\/p>\n
BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Leaders of the separatist Free Aceh
\nMovement (GAM) forces vowed on Friday to continue attacks if
\nsecurity forces persisted in conducting sweeping operations
\nagainst them.<\/p>\n
The threat was issued despite a month-long moratorium on
\nviolence agreed by Indonesian and GAM negotiators earlier this
\nweek.<\/p>\n
Between Wednesday and Friday, no less than 18 incidents were
\nrecorded across the province, with officials claiming that \"most
\nof the clashes were initiated by rebels.\"<\/p>\n
GAM spokesman in North Aceh, Abu Sofyan Daud, issued a strong
\nwarning saying that rebel attacks would persist \"if the security
\nauthorities continue to conduct sweeping operations searching for
\nguns in the villages.\"<\/p>\n
\"The weaponry belongs to us (GAM), not the civilians. If the
\nsecurity forces try to take the weapons, they will have to fight
\nus. Come to our base and get them,\" Abu Sofyan said.<\/p>\n
Police here have said that they would launch a widespread
\nsweeping operation starting Monday.<\/p>\n
On Friday the spokesman for the Cinta Meunasah Operation,
\nChief Comr. Kusbini Imbar, said sporadic gunfights took place in
\nfive different places near Lhokseumawe, capital of North Aceh,
\nbut no casualties were reported.<\/p>\n
This was a continuation of clashes which seem to have
\nintensified since Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Two teenagers, Ramli, 16 and Muhammad, 15, remain critically
\ninjured after being shot in one of the incidents in Blang Dalam
\nvillage, Nisam district in North Aceh.<\/p>\n
\"My sons are both being treated at Cut Meutia hospital,\"
\nHasyim Husein, father of the victims, said on Friday.<\/p>\n
\"They were using the toilet, about 100 meters from the house,
\nwhen suddenly they heard gunfire and fled,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Ramli was shot in the head and Muhammad in the chest.<\/p>\n
A staffer at Cut Meutia Hospital revealed that eight Punteut
\nvillagers from Blang Mangat -- some eight kilometers east of
\nLhokseumawe -- were also being treated for injuries as a result
\nof the continuing violence.<\/p>\n
North Aceh Police Chief Adj. Chief Comr. Wanto Sumardi, urged
\npeople not to be afraid of the gun sweeping operations.<\/p>\n
\"Police will only target specific houses. So there is nothing
\nto worry about,\" he said during a community service work by
\nsecurity forces with locals in Lhokseumawe.<\/p>\n
Separately, in a coincidental event, security forces and
\nrebels on Friday both cleared opposite ends of a 100-kilometer
\nroad between Simpang Ulin and Peureulak which previously been
\nblocked by debris and logs as a result of a clash between them
\nthe previous day.<\/p>\n
The clogged road had severely disrupted transportation in the
\narea.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in Jakarta, Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab
\nmaintained that the Indonesian Military (TNI) would not impose a
\ncoercive policy in Aceh, which conflicts with government
\nstatements on Aceh.<\/p>\n
\"Even in Geneva, representatives of TNI were part of the
\nIndonesian negotiating team. People should not have the
\nimpression that the TNI and government are on a collision course
\nover Aceh,\" he remarked. (50\/edt\/dja)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gam-warns-military-against-sweeping-operations-1447893297",
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