Shoot-on-sight order imposed in restive Aceh<\/p>\n
Ibnu Mat Noor, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh<\/p>\n
In an abrupt response to a call for a massive transport
\nstrike, Brig. Gen. Djali Yusuf, commander of military operations
\nin Aceh, has ordered security officers to shoot on sight anyone
\nfound disturbing public interests.<\/p>\n
\"I have ordered all security personnel to shoot on sight those
\nfound intentionally disturbing the public interest or peace,\" he
\ntold The Jakarta Post by telephone here on Monday.<\/p>\n
\"Those found felling trees to block the roads, inciting people
\nto join a strike or planting explosives in public places will be
\nshot on sight,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Djali was responding to the Free Aceh Movement (GAM)'s call
\nfor a three-day general strike, starting this Wednesday, to
\nprotest what the separatist rebels say is excessive brutality by
\nmilitary and police forces.<\/p>\n
The move also comes as an objection to the government's plan
\nto reinstate the Iskandar Muda Military Command in the strife-
\ntorn province.<\/p>\n
Security personnel have been deployed from all available
\nforces from Monday on to counter the call for the strike action.<\/p>\n
Djali said that the police and military would make all their
\nvehicles available for public transport \"if operators halt
\nservices following the strike call.\"<\/p>\n
Leaders of the Aceh administration, security forces and
\ncommunity leaders have all united in urging the public to ignore
\nthe strike order, saying it is misleading and will only bring
\nmore suffering to the people of the embattled province.<\/p>\n
\"All Acehnese people are asked to ignore GAM's call for a
\ntotal strike, and to continue their daily activities in
\naccordance with their own professions,\" said a joint statement
\nread by Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh on Monday.<\/p>\n
The statement was jointly signed by the governor, Deputy
\nChairman of the Aceh Legislative Council T. Bachrum Manyak,
\nprovincial Prosecutors' Office Chief Sunaryo, provincial
\npolice\/security restoration operation chief Insp. Gen. Yusuf
\nMangga Barani, and Brig. Gen. Djali Yusuf.<\/p>\n
The statement also said that the Acehnese should not fear the
\nstrike call because both the police and the military will protect
\nthem on all roads, and at the administration, economic and social
\ncenters across the province.<\/p>\n
It went on to say that any strike will bring needless
\nsuffering to all people in Aceh, and would work against the
\nteachings of Islam.<\/p>\n
Security personnel, according to the statement, will take
\nstrict actions against anyone inciting the strike.<\/p>\n
Djali, an Acehnese, called on the people not to be affected by
\nGAM's call.<\/p>\n
\"Why should we feel frightened with them? We've been feeling
\nthreatened so far even without being threatened,\" he asserted.<\/p>\n
GAM spokesman Teungku Sofyan Dawood said one of the purposes
\nof the strike was to attract international attention to the
\nquestion of Acehnese independence.<\/p>\n
\"We ask the people of Aceh to stay to pray at home and places
\nof worship during the three-day strike,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Violence between GAM and security forces continues to inflict
\nfatalities. More than 50 people, including innocent civilians,
\nwere killed in the first two weeks of the year.<\/p>\n
Maj. Zaenal Mutaqin, a spokesman for the military operation in
\nthe province, said security officers shot dead two rebels in a
\nskirmish in Temarem village, West Aceh on Sunday.<\/p>\n
One of the two was identified as 24-year-old Ardiansyah.<\/p>\n
Security officials also seized a .36-caliber pistol, a set of
\ncommunications radios and receipts bearing the GAM logo.<\/p>\n
Soldiers also shot three other rebels who were found
\nvandalizing a two-meter section of road in Lhok Pusong, Bireuen,
\nin an attempt to block troops from raiding on their base.<\/p>\n
In another bloody episode, two suspected rebels were killed in
\na military raid on an alleged rebel hideout in a village in West
\nAceh, also on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Two bodies with gunshot wounds were found in a river in a
\nvillage on the outskirts of provincial capital Banda Aceh on the
\nsame day, a human rights activist said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/shoot-on-sight-order-imposed-in-restive-aceh-1447893297",
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