Troops shoot protesters in Aceh, 23 wounded<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): At least 23 people were seriously injured in
\nMeulaboh, West Aceh, on Tuesday afternoon when military troops
\nopened fire on thousands of demonstrators who took to the streets
\nto demand a self-determination referendum for the troubled
\nprovince, witnesses said.<\/p>\n
A correspondent of Serambi Indonesia daily in Meulaboh,
\nZahrial, reported military personnel shot the protesters as they
\nattempted to force their way into the compound of the local
\nmilitary command.<\/p>\n
The mob burned the legislative council building at Simpang
\nTugu Pelor near Jl. Iskandar Muda before marching to the military
\ncommand.<\/p>\n
\"At least 15 of the injured demonstrators are still in
\ncritical condition at Cuk Nyak Dhien Hospital,\" Zahrial told The
\nJakarta Post by phone.<\/p>\n
The violence follows President Abdurrahman Wahid's order the
\nIndonesian Military investigate local military personnel
\nallegedly involved in the fatal shooting of more than 50 people
\nin July in the West Aceh subdistrict of Beutong Ateuh.<\/p>\n
Zahrial said the mob burned the legislative council building
\nafter discovering the 45 legislators had left the building,
\nignoring protesters' demand for a meeting.<\/p>\n
\"The building was completely destroyed,\" Zahrial said.<\/p>\n
The situation in Meulaboh remained tense as of Tuesday
\nevening, with shops closed and no public transportation
\noperating, Zahrial said.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Military spokesman Maj. Gen. Sudradjat confirmed
\nthe shooting, but said only one protester was shot during the
\nclash, which broke out after the mob failed to force Capt.
\nSyamsul Arif to lower the Indonesian flag flying in the military
\ncompound.<\/p>\n
\"When the two sides failed to reach an agreement, the mob
\ntried to force their way into the compound and security troops
\nhad no choice but to fire warning shots,\" Sudradjat told Antara
\nnew agency.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the National Commission on Human Rights'
\nrepresentative in Aceh, Iqbal Farabi, expressed surprise at the
\nburning of the legislative building and the protesters' attempt
\nto force their way into the military compound. He said
\ndemonstrations in other cities in Aceh usually proceeded
\npeacefully.<\/p>\n
\"The people actually just wanted to burn all the documents in
\nthe (council) office, but the fire razed the whole building,\"
\nIqbal said.<\/p>\n
He said the rally on Tuesday was staged by the Taliban student
\ngroup, adding that the group had never before resorted to
\nviolence in pressing their demands for a referendum.<\/p>\n
\"This is a new phenomenon for Aceh,\" Iqbal said.<\/p>\n
Iqbal said street protests to demand a self-determination
\nreferendum for the province had become routine in Aceh's 11
\nregencies and two mayoralties over the past two months.
\nProtesters usually read an identical statement and ask the local
\nlegislators to sign it, he added.<\/p>\n
Iqbal said the military and police were generally tolerant of
\nprotesters, and most fatalities and injuries during
\ndemonstrations were the result of traffic accidents.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the chief of the Bukit Barisan Military Command
\noverseeing Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra and Riau, Maj. Gen.
\nRahman Gaffar, said the investigation into the July killing of 51
\npeople, including religious leader Teungku Bantaqiah, would begin
\nsoon.<\/p>\n
\"We are still waiting instructions from the investigative team
\nin Jakarta. The investigation will also look into inhumane acts
\ncommitted by GAM, which has killed scores of innocent soldiers
\nand police officers,\" Rahman told Antara. GAM is the separatist
\nFree Aceh Movement.<\/p>\n
Disputing a fact-finding team's report that Bantaqiah was an
\ninnocent civilian, Rahman said the religious leader was involved
\nin weapons and marijuana.<\/p>\n
Rahman also alleged that Bantaqiah, a former political
\nprisoner, was responsible for the killing of 14 soldiers and
\npolice officers in West Aceh. (51\/byg\/prb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/troops-shoot-protesters-in-aceh-23-wounded-1447893297",
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