Government inconsistent in dealing with Aceh issue: GAM<\/p>\n
Ibnu Mat Noor, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh<\/p>\n
The Free Aceh Movement (GAM) is accusing the Indonesian
\ngovernment of being inconsistent in dealing with the Aceh
\nconflict.<\/p>\n
\"On one hand they (government) say that the Aceh problems must
\nbe resolved through negotiation, however, they still use
\nviolence,\" Abu Arafah, one of GAM commanders, said on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Arafah cited the recent complaint by Paya Bakong residents in
\nthe Matangkuli district near the ExxonMobil gas field in North
\nAceh.<\/p>\n
The people marched to the North Aceh legislature on Tuesday to
\ncomplain about military operations being conducted by the
\nIndonesian military (TNI) and police. The marchers claim they are
\nliving in fear of ongoing military raids in the area.<\/p>\n
Arafah also criticized Defense Minister Matori Abdul Djalil's
\nrecent statements on the continuation of the execution of
\nPresidential Instruction (Inp[res) No. 4\/2001 which deals with
\nthe struggle in Aceh.<\/p>\n
The statements have reportedly provoked heightened tension in
\nthe restive province.<\/p>\n
Matori said in Jakarta on Tuesday that the implementation of
\nthe Inpres would be extended for the next four months, while
\nAcehnese had earlier urged that the Inpres signed by then-
\npresident Abdurrahman Wahid be voided.<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri in July approved the House of
\nRepresentatives' (DPR) proposal on the provision of regional
\nautonomy for Aceh.<\/p>\n
Therefore, the extension of the Inpres is viewed by many to be
\na setback in the endeavors to settle problems in Aceh.<\/p>\n
Arafah blasted Matori's statements, saying that Matori's
\ncomments have provoked GAM's anger.<\/p>\n
\"(Indonesian) soldiers and policemen still arrest people
\nrandomly, kill them and dump the dead bodies everywhere. Is that
\nlaw enforcement?\" asked Arafah.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, at least 18 people had been killed in conflicts in
\nseparate areas from Tuesday to Thursday.<\/p>\n
Muslim, an Indonesian Red Cross worker in Banda Aceh said he
\nhad just transported three dead bodies, all with gunshot wounds,
\nto the Zainoel Abidin Hospital. The unidentified dead bodies were
\nfound in the outskirts of the capital Banda Aceh.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday and Wednesday eight civilians, six GAM members, and
\none TNI soldier were killed. TNI, police, GAM and humanitarian
\nworkers all confirmed the fatalities.<\/p>\n
After the Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) conducted raids in
\nthe village of Meesale, about 30 kilometers east of Banda Aceh,
\non Wednesday, PMI workers found three dead men with gunshot
\nwounds.<\/p>\n
The spokesman for the Operation for Security Restoration in
\nAceh, Comr. Miyanto said that the three were GAM members shot
\ndead during a gun battle with Brimob members.<\/p>\n
\"A man named Bahtiar, 22, was arrested by the police after the
\nclash. A Scorpion gun (brand of an automatic rifle) was also
\nseized from GAM at that time.\"<\/p>\n
In the district of Idi, East Aceh, about 400 kilometers east
\nof Banda Aceh, TNI soldiers invaded on Wednesday a remote village
\nbelieved to be a GAM hideout. Three Acehnese men were found dead
\nafter the raid.<\/p>\n
According to Miyanto the three dead bodies were all GAM
\nmembers. \"One TNI soldier was shot during the raid, while two
\nrifles with ammunition were seized from GAM.\"<\/p>\n
In North Aceh, GAM spokesman Sofyan Daud said two civilians
\nwere killed during police raids in the villages around the
\nExxonMobil field on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
In the regency of Bireuen, around 200 kilometers east of Banda
\nAceh, a village head was shot dead by unidentified people. Locals
\nsaid that the victim had been dragged out of his home before
\nbeing executed in front of the shocked villagers in the district
\nof Gandapura on early Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Additionally, in Blang Naleung Mameh village, about 250
\nkilometers east of Banda Aceh two dead bodies were found on
\nTuesday according to humanitarian workers.<\/p>\n
In South Aceh, a member of TNI, Private Bagus was shot dead
\nduring a clash on Tuesday with GAM members in Ujong Pasir
\nvillage.<\/p>\n
Also on Tuesday, three men identified as Abdullah Syam, 55,
\nand Razali, 37, Idris Yusuf, 37, were found dead with gunshot
\nwounds in Bireun regency.<\/p>",
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