Military strikes rebel base with rockets<\/p>\n
Nani Farida and Tengku Agam Muzakkir, The Jakarta Post,
\nBanda Aceh\/Lhokseumawe<\/p>\n
After a six-month lapse, Air Force bombers led a major offensive
\nagainst Free Aceh Movement (GAM) bases in Aceh Besar regency on
\nFriday.<\/p>\n
During an air assault lasting 20 minutes, two OV-10 Broncos
\nfired at least 28 missiles to level seven huts located in a hilly
\nforest, which was believed to harbor rebels. No fatalities were
\nreported in the attack.<\/p>\n
\"We conducted a surveillance in the morning and found the huts
\nbelonging to GAM inside the forest. We only launched the assault
\naround 3:30 p.m.,\" Aceh Besar Military Commander Lt. Col. Joko
\nWarsito said.<\/p>\n
It was the first bombardment of GAM positions using aircraft
\nafter around six months. The TNI deployed F-16 jet fighters in
\nJune to strike GAM bases in North Aceh. On the first day of the
\nmilitary operation on May 19, the military dispatched HS-Hawks to
\nthe province, raising objections from their producing country
\nBritain.<\/p>\n
Joko said the air surveillance easily detected the wooden huts
\nas they were covered by stark blue tarpaulins.<\/p>\n
\"We saw clothes hanging on several parts of the huts,
\nindicating the presence of human beings,\" Joko said. \"I believe
\nGAM deputy commander for Aceh Besar lived there.\"<\/p>\n
He was convinced the rebels had celebrated the GAM anniversary
\non Thursday at the place, which is situated on Geunaleng mountain
\nin Darul Kamal district.<\/p>\n
Military troops scoured the site following the air assault,
\nbut found no bodies. The military expressed fear the rebels had
\nmingled with residents.<\/p>\n
The government troops also combed Cot Bak Krueng Siron, also
\nin Aceh Besar, after giving chase to a group of rebels who
\nwounded two Army Special Forces (Kopassus) soldiers during a
\ngunfight on Thursday.<\/p>\n
GAM lost one of its local leaders, Din Teungku Tok, who was
\nkilled along with his adjutant Teungku Mahdi in the latest armed
\nclash on Friday.<\/p>\n
\"Due to the difficult terrain, we could not evacuate the
\nbodies. We just buried them there,\" Joko said, adding that the
\ntroops seized a rocket propeller, a Colt pistol and two homemade
\npistols from Teungku Tok.<\/p>\n
The TNI has had Mt. Siron under surveillance since December
\n2003, according to Joko. Government troops have since been
\ninvolved in several skirmishes around the mountain.<\/p>\n
Sporadic gunfights also took place across the natural
\nresource-rich province on Friday.<\/p>\n
In Blang Mangat area near Lhokseumawe, the military found an
\nexplosive weighing 25 kilograms and claimed it belonged to GAM.<\/p>\n
Local residents said they discovered the bomb on Friday
\nafternoon by accident.<\/p>\n
First Lt. Ediyanto, the chief of the bomb squad, said the bomb
\nhad been meant to be detonated on Thursday. He added that the
\nbomb was capable of destroying objects within a 150-meter radius.<\/p>\n
\"GAM failed to detonate the bomb after a group of residents
\ndiscovered the plan and reported it to us,\" he said.<\/p>\n
A resident said that locals ran after the suspected GAM
\nmembers, who just left the bomb unattended.<\/p>",
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