'War in Aceh needs 50,000 combatants'<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Military has revealed that its plans to crush Free
\nAceh Movement separatists would involve 50,000 troops and take
\njust six months but would minimize civilian casualties.<\/p>\n
A peace deal between the two sides, engaged in a war that has
\nclaimed at least 10,000 lives since 1976, is in tatters but both
\nsides have agreed to return to the negotiating table.<\/p>\n
Iskandar Muda (Aceh) Military Commander Maj. Gen. Djali Yusuf
\nsaid in Jakarta on Tuesday that the huge number of troops was
\nneeded to combat the guerrilla tactics that would most likely be
\nadopted by the separatists.<\/p>\n
\"GAM now has around 5,000 members. Ideally, each rebel will be
\nfaced by 10 soldiers. But off course we will not ask for that
\nmuch,\" Djali said, adding the military currently had 26,000
\nsoldiers in the province.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Military (TNI) had mapped out the targets of
\noperation in order to minimize civilian fatalities, but it would
\nstill take about six months to break GAM, Djali said.<\/p>\n
\"We have to minimize civilian casualties. It will be
\nimpossible for us to conduct massive attacks so it will be a
\nguerrilla war.<\/p>\n
\"We have all the information that we need regarding their
\nnumber, activities and leaders.\"<\/p>\n
To contain gunrunning, the TNI had increased naval patrols
\naround Aceh.<\/p>\n
Aceh military spokesman Lt. Col. Firdaus Komarno said marines
\nkilled three suspected separatist rebels in a gunfight in waters
\noff East Aceh.<\/p>\n
The marines fired on the alleged GAM members after the
\nguerrillas responded to warning shots by opening fire, Komarno
\nsaid, adding that 12 Kalashnikov assault rifles and thousands of
\nbullets were found on the boat.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/war-in-aceh-needs-50000-combatants-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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