Standoff continues in Lhokseumawe<\/p>\n
LANGSA, Aceh (JP): Troops continued on Friday to seal off
\nKandang village near Lhokseumawe in the hope frustrated residents
\nwould hand over separatist leader Ahmad Kandang, believed to be
\nin hiding with his followers.<\/p>\n
The authorities are considering the most effective approach to
\nraid the village and arrest Ahmad without causing bloodshed,
\nLilawangsa Military Commander Col. Johnny Wahab told The Jakarta
\nPost from Lhokseumawe, the North Aceh regency capital about 200
\nkilometers northwest of here.<\/p>\n
\"We are trying to catch the fish without disturbing the pond,\"
\nJohnny said.<\/p>\n
At least four military trucks and dozens of soldiers were
\nposted at various locations, barring all access to the village.<\/p>\n
\"The villagers are now isolated... they can't go outside,
\nthey can't buy food, if the situation continues like this, they
\nmay become upset with Ahmad Kandang (and turn him in),\" Johnny
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in Jakarta on Friday, a group of Acehnese community
\nfigures met with President B.J. Habibie to express support for
\nthe country and reject notions their four million populace wanted
\nindependence.<\/p>\n
On Sunday, troops raided alleged separatist targets in Kandang
\nand Pusong village, killing at least 11 in the process and
\ninjuring more than 32.<\/p>\n
The raids were prompted by the killing of seven off-duty
\nsoldiers in Lhok Nibung, about 100 kilometers west of here, and
\nthe kidnapping of two marines in the North Aceh district of Muara
\nDua last week.<\/p>\n
The military said Ahmad was responsible for the incidents.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, on the last day of their three-day fact-finding
\ntrip to the province, members of the National Commission on Human
\nRights visited Lhok Nibung and Langsa, the capital of East Aceh
\nregency.<\/p>\n
A witness to the incidents, Syarifudin Ibe, 28, described to
\nthe group how several people appeared in the area on the morning
\nof Dec. 29 and stopped vehicles to search for suspected \"ninja-
\nclad killers\".<\/p>\n
The local military accuses Ahmad and his followers of
\nspreading rumors the killers, like those who allegedly butchered
\nabout 200 Muslim preachers and witchcraft practitioners in East
\nJava last year, were also operating in the area.<\/p>\n
\"We did not know those men,\" Syarifudin said.<\/p>\n
Another witness, Jalil, 51, said the strangers did not allow
\nthe villagers to approach them.<\/p>\n
Villagers complained about the tardy arrival of troops despite
\ntheir early report to the military.<\/p>\n
East Aceh Military Commander Lt. Col. Ilyas attributed the
\ntardiness to problems in logistics.<\/p>\n
\"Langsa is 100 kilometers from Lhok Nibung so it took us some
\ntime to send troops,\" Ilyas told commission members.<\/p>\n
Mission leader Albert Hasibuan later told the Post in Medan,
\nNorth Sumatra, that commission members were willing to act as the
\nmediator in negotiations between the military and Ahmad Kandang
\nto prevent violence.<\/p>\n
Albert revealed that two detainees the commission visited
\nadmitted to being members of the separatist movement.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, Aceh leaders urged President Habibie to quickly
\nresolve cases of human rights violations during the military
\noperation from 1989 to 1998 in the province.<\/p>\n
They also told the President to release all political
\nprisoners in the province and help victims of the rights
\nviolations.<\/p>\n
Special status<\/p>\n
They also reminded Habibie of the special status accorded the
\nprovince by the central government 40 years ago.<\/p>\n
Founding president Sukarno granted the status to Aceh,
\nYogyakarta and Jakarta for the role of their people and leaders
\nin the nation's struggle for independence.<\/p>\n
\"We urge the President to quickly grant amnesty, drop charges
\nand rehabilitate all political prisoners and detainees in Aceh,\"
\nsaid provincial council speaker H.T. Djohan in a statement read
\nbefore Habibie at Merdeka Palace.<\/p>\n
The statement was signed by six government officials,
\nincluding Aceh Governor Syamsuddin Mahmud, Djohan, Aceh Military
\nCommander Col. Asril Hamzah Tanjung and Aceh Police chief
\nDjurhanus Wiradinata.<\/p>\n
Minister of Defense\/Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto and
\nMinister\/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung also attended the
\nmeeting.<\/p>\n
The President ordered Wiranto, in his capacity as executive
\nchairman of the Council for Enforcement of Security and Law, to
\nprobe human rights abuses in the province. (byg\/prb\/21)<\/p>",
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