10 killed in fresh violence in Aceh over the weekend

10 killed in fresh violence in Aceh over the weekend

Ibnu Mat Noor, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh

At least 10 people were shot dead in four separate incidents in
Aceh over the weekend, police and military officers said on
Monday.

Aceh Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Dade Achmad said five
suspected Free Aceh Movement (GAM) fighters, including a woman,
were killed in two separate skirmishes in West Aceh on Sunday
afternoon.

The first took place at about 3 p.m. on Sunday in Tingkeh
village, Woyla, some 250 kilometers southeast of Banda Aceh. The
gunfire lasted for about 20 minutes, and personnel belonging to
the National Police's Mobile Brigade shot dead two suspected GAM
guerrillas, identified as Rauzan, 35, and his wife.

The second clash broke out one hour later in Blang Dalam
village, just a few kilometers from Tingkeh village. Dade said
three unidentified GAM fighters were killed by Mobile Brigade
members in a 15-minute heated encounter.

Police confiscated one minivan, 35 rounds of ammunition, three
motorbikes and one set of radio communications from the site of
the incidents, Dade said.

There was no confirmation from GAM on the incidents.

Meanwhile, in Lhokseumawe, North Aceh, about 250 kilometers
east of Banda Aceh, three civilians were shot dead by four
unidentified people wearing masks on Sunday afternoon.

Witnesses said four people dressed in civilian clothes and
riding on two motorbikes shot three residents of Teumpok Teungoh
village.

The three were identified as Mulyadi, 25, who was a driver for
PT Telkomsel, Basri, 30, and Ridwan. Mulyadi and Basri died on
the spot, while Ridwan died on the way to Cut Meutia Public
Hospital in Lhokseumawe on Sunday evening.

North Aceh Police Adj. Sr. Comr. Sunardi said authorities were
investigating the incident.

Aceh Military spokesman May. Zaenal Muttaqien said GAM killed
a civilian in Bireuen, North Aceh on Sunday.

Muttaqien also said the Indonesian Military (TNI) shot dead a
man believed to be a member of GAM while he was attempting to
escape security personnel who were searching for him near a
housing complex of PT Arun NGL. Co. in North Aceh.

But witnesses said the man was a civilian working as an ojek
(motorcycle driver) in the Batuphat area, near PT Arun's housing
complex.

GAM spokesman for North Aceh Tengku Jamaika said security
personnel were responsible for the killing.

Thousands of Acehnese, including civilians, are believed to
have died since 1976 when GAM began its fight for independence in
the country's westernmost province.