Rebels deny surrender rumors<\/p>\n
Ibnu Mat Noor and Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh\/Lhokseumawe<\/p>\n
Rumors are spreading in Banda Aceh that Free Aceh Movement (GAM)
\ncommander Muzakhir Manaf and GAM spokesman Sofyan Dawood, who
\nhave been caught in the two-week military siege of their
\nheadquarters in North Aceh, have surrendered to the military.<\/p>\n
In local dailies on Friday, Army chief Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu
\nwas quoted as saying the two GAM leaders had surrendered.<\/p>\n
However, both the local military and GAM denied the stories.<\/p>\n
Tengku Jamaika, GAM spokesman in North Aceh, while denying the
\nrumors conceded that he had been unable to contact Sofyan Dawood
\nby cellular phone since Thursday afternoon.<\/p>\n
Jamaika added that he was not in Cot Trieng, where the GAM
\nleaders have been under siege.<\/p>\n
Sofyan Dawood called The Jakarta Post at 12 p.m. on Thursday
\nand insisted that the rebels would never surrender to the
\nmilitary.<\/p>\n
The spokesman for the Lilawangsa Military District in
\nLhokseumawe, Capt. Abrori Abbas, also denied the GAM leaders had
\nsurrendered.<\/p>\n
\"So far no rebels have been arrested or have surrendered,\" he
\ntold the Post.<\/p>\n
During a visit to the area on Friday, the chief of the
\nIndonesian Military (TNI)'s general affairs division, Lt. Gen.
\nDjamari Chaniago, gave no indication that Manaf and his armed
\nsupporters had surrendered.<\/p>\n
The normally quiet Cot Trieng in Nissam subdistrict, a marshy
\nland home to little more than sugarcane and snakes, has been the
\nfocus of the country's attention since more than 3,000 soldiers
\nsurrounded the area over two weeks ago.<\/p>\n
Claiming that Cot Trieng is a base for the armed wing of GAM,
\nthe military has established a ring around the entire area.<\/p>\n
The siege is aimed at pressuring GAM leaders to surrender and
\nagree to sign a proposed peace agreement before the Idul Fitri
\nholiday, which would hopefully end the prolonged conflict in the
\nprovince that has claimed tens of thousands of lives.<\/p>\n
The marshes of Cot Trieng, locally known as Paya Rayeuk, are
\neight kilometers long and two kilometers wide.<\/p>\n
\"GAM troops are hiding in the vast swampy tracts,\" local
\nmilitary chief A. Y. Nasution told visiting journalists on
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
The two districts situated next to Cot Trieng are Nisam and
\nMuara Dua. From Muara Dua, Cot Trieng is directly accessible. If
\ntraveling from Nisam, one has to pass through the village of
\nKeude Keutapang, five kilometers away, before arriving at Cot
\nTrieng.<\/p>\n
Some 200 people from villages in the area have arrived at
\nKeutapang since the military blockade began. They are being
\naccommodated at two Islamic boarding schools.<\/p>\n
\"Lots of soldiers in our villages have been targeted by GAM
\nmembers shootings from the marshes,\" said one resident.<\/p>\n
Dozens of fully armed TNI infantrymen are patrolling the
\nvillages, confirmed Lt. Col. Oppie Ones, the operation
\nleader.<\/p>\n
He said the most intense exchange of gunfire with GAM took
\nplace on Nov. 10. The military sent a helicopter and a tank in to
\noverwhelm the rebels, but they managed to escape.<\/p>\n
Because the situation remains highly volatile, medical
\npersonnel have not been allowed into the villages near Cot
\nTrieng, forcing dozens of children to line up for treatment in
\nKeutapang.<\/p>\n
Oppie Ones remains confident that the GAM commander and his
\nrebels are still hiding out in the marshes.<\/p>\n
\"Nearly all the villagers recognize Muzakhir Manaf, meaning
\nthat his mobility is fairly high in this place,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Our commander is safe,\" Sofyan Dawood said earlier in the
\nweek, denying Muzakir was present in Cot Trieng.<\/p>\n
However, the GAM spokesman acknowledged he was caught in the
\nmilitary siege along with hundreds of supporters and civilians.
\n\"We won't surrender. Let's see who leaves this area as the
\nloser.\"<\/p>\n
There are no signs that the 18-day siege will end soon, with
\nno indications that the TNI is preparing for a final assault or
\nthat GAM is attempting to escape. Both sides seem to have settled
\ninto a waiting game.<\/p>\n
\"We are trying to use persuasion (to get them to surrender),\"
\nLt. Col. Firdaus, spokesman for the Iskandar Muda Military
\nCommand, told the Post.<\/p>\n
It is difficult to speculate on the number of GAM rebels
\nhiding out in Cot Trieng's harsh marshy terrain, or how long they
\ncan hold out against the military siege. There is no question,
\nhowever, that Oppie Ones and his troops are confident that they
\nwill be able to outlast the rebels.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rebels-deny-surrender-rumors-1447893297",
"image": ""
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