Six rebels, three troops killed in Aceh<\/p>\n
Ibnu Mat Noor, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh<\/p>\n
Six members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and three members
\nof the Indonesian Military (TNI) died early on Thursday during a
\nclash in Blang Baroh village, Jantho subdistrict, Aceh Besar
\nregency, about 60 kilometers from Banda Aceh.<\/p>\n
Local military spokesman, Maj. Zaenal Muttaqin, told the press
\nin Lhokseumawe on Thursday that the gun battle began when TNI
\nforces attacked a GAM hideout in the village.<\/p>\n
He said some 14 soldiers from TNI surrounded the GAM hideout
\non Wednesday night at about 10 p.m. The clash began at 6 a.m. on
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
The three victims from the TNI were identified as Second Sgt.
\nLaparo, a member of the Army's Special Force (Kopassus), and
\nFirst Pvt. Hendro also of Kopassus and Chief Private Hamid
\nof the Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad).<\/p>\n
Their bodies were taken to Kesdam Iskandar Muda Hospital and
\nwill be flown to their units in Jakarta on Friday.<\/p>\n
Zaenal said the six GAM members killed in the clash had not
\nyet been identified.<\/p>\n
He also said the TNI soldiers confiscated evidence from the
\nhideout, including an M-16 rifle, two Colt pistols, a radio
\ncommunications set and ammunition.<\/p>\n
The GAM spokesman in Aceh Besar, Ayah Sofyan, said on Thursday
\nthat GAM forces and the TNI were involved in a gun battle in the
\nvillage, but he could not confirm the number of dead.<\/p>\n
"We are currently investigating the incident," he said.<\/p>\n
GAM has been fighting for an independent Aceh state since
\n1976.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/six-rebels-three-troops-killed-in-aceh-1447893297",
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