14 killed in Aceh, thousands take refuge

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.