14 killed in Aceh, thousands take refuge

Ibnu Mat Noor, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh

At least 14 people, including an Army soldier, were killed in two separate clashes between the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and the military in the restive province on Friday.

Major Zaenal Muttaqin, the local military spokesman, told The Jakarta Post here that eight rebels and an Army soldier were killed when the military raided a hut believed to be used as a GAM hideout in Plimbang Jeunib, Bireuen, 170 kilometers east of Band Aceh.

Four alleged rebels killed in the 30-minute gunfight were identified as Umar Abdullah, 26; M. Juned Iskak, 24; Junaidi, 23; and Fauzi, 36. The four other alleged rebels who were killed have yet to be identified.

Zaenal said First Sgt. Goltom L. Toruan, who lead the raid, was also killed in the battle.

The soldiers seized six AK-47s and one pistol from the rebels, according to Zaenal.

The major said the soldiers also discovered the body of Kamaruddin, a resident of Plimbang Jeunib, near the village. It is believed that he was killed by the rebels.

A second clash occurred in Meusale village, Indrapuri, 25 kilometers east of Banda Aceh, leaving four rebels dead.

Zaenal said the clash occurred as 40 soldiers were conducting a sweep of the village early on Friday.

The major identified the four rebels killed in the clash as Arifin, 30; Muhayat, 27; Nazaruddin, 23; and Murzani, 32.

"All of the rebels' bodies were handed over to nearby villagers to be buried," said Zaenal.

GAM officials and spokesmen were not available for confirmation of the clashes, but local residents expressed concern over the increasing violence that has claimed thousands of lives over the last two years.

Zainal A. Hamid, a community leader in Aceh Singkil, said the prolonged conflict had forced thousands of people to flee the province.

"Over the last three weeks, more than 500 Acehnese families have left Aceh Singkil to take refuge in safe areas in the border areas between the province and North Sumatra," he said in Aceh Singkil on Friday.

He said the exodus was triggered by the execution of Dah village head Kasman earlier this month by unidentified gunmen.

Zainal said the violence prevented locals from carrying out their daily activities, forcing them to remain inside their homes.

Ishaq Hazami, an employee at the local social affairs office, said some 2,800 families in Pidie regency were at risk of starvation because of the prolonged conflict.

"The poor families, most of them in the four least-developed subdistricts in the regency, can no longer go outside to work their fields because of the increased violence in the regency since January," he said.