Military 'must take responsibility for Aceh killings'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Leading ulema in Aceh have demanded that the
\nmilitary take responsibility for the May 3 massacre in which at
\nleast 40 died in a North Aceh village.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Council of Ulema's Aceh branch, in a letter to
\nPresident B.J. Habibie, condemned the tragedy and demanded that
\nstern measures be taken against those found guilty, Antara
\nreported.<\/p>\n
The religious leaders also reminded Habibie of the promise he
\nmade to the Aceh community.<\/p>\n
\"President B.J. Habibie said at the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque
\nin Banda Aceh on March 26, 1999, that he did not want to see
\nanother violent act and bloody incident in Aceh following the
\nliquidation of the military operation status,\" the letter stated.<\/p>\n
While the government has apologized for atrocities during the
\noperation, which lasted from 1989 to last year, residents and
\nobservers have said serious efforts to address the impacts, such
\nas rehabilitation of victims, have not been taken.<\/p>\n
Reporting from the province capital of Banda Aceh, the agency
\nalso quoted the speaker of the legislature as urging that the new
\nbattalion sent to Aceh should stress preventive measures.<\/p>\n
A battalion of 450 riot troops was sent to Aceh on Friday to
\nrestore law and order there.<\/p>\n
H.T. Djohan was quoted as saying that if the troops failed to
\nact in a preventive way, there would be \"continuous warring\" with
\nrioters.<\/p>\n
He said he hoped the troops would blend in with people and act
\ndecently.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a separatist leader in Aceh denied charges by the
\nmilitary that the movement was to blame for a massacre in which
\nat least 40 died.<\/p>\n
Reuters quoted Tuengku Maulida as saying on Sunday that the
\nFree Aceh movement was not involved at all in the May 3 incident
\nin Krueng Geukueh, 15 kilometers west of the North Aceh capital
\nof Lhokseumawe.<\/p>\n
\"We had nothing to do with the incident. We are against
\nviolence,\" Maulida said.<\/p>\n
The military had said it fired in self-defense after being
\nattacked by Free Aceh rebels. (anr)<\/p>",
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