20,000 Aceh refugees flee sanctuary

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Almost all of the approximately 20,000 refugees who sought shelter at Point-A area of the Exxon-Oil airport compound in Tanah Luas district of North Aceh were gone on Wednesday afternoon.

Witnesses said security forces cajoled refugees to return by surrounding the area and firing warning shots into the air the night before.

Around 2,815 families had been staying there in makeshift tents after they fled their homes in Tanah Luas and Matangkuli districts.

They fled their homes because of growing tension due to numerous armed clashes in the area.

Witnesses said the refugees were terrified as sounds of gunfire were heard around 6 p.m. Tuesday.

"They first tried to persuade the people to return home of their own volition. But later in the day, right after sunset, the troops fired shots into the air and we all hid in our tents," Nurhamah, a house wife from Blang Jruen, recounted her experience.

The last large group of around 2,000 refugees left the Exxon- Oil compound on Wednesday afternoon.

Many were seen returning on foot; others went by whatever vehicles were available.

"Never before in my life have I felt so scared and sad to be driven away like some kind of animal," Nurhamah added.

Police earlier claimed that residents had fled their homes due to rampant terror and propaganda from the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatist rebels, who used the people as shields for their activities.

But Deputy commander of GAM in North Aceh, Abu Sofyan Daud, on Wednesday denied the allegations.

"Troops keep on launching security sweeps and many have died as a result. The humanitarian pause seems only to work for the government, but not for us and the people," he said.

Meanwhile, in Jakarta about 600 marines from the Cilandak Infantry Brigade 2 were preparing to leave for Aceh next Monday.

TNI Spokesman Vice Marshal Graito Usodo said the battalion was being sent to replace colleagues who have been stationed there for six months.

The new dispatch of marines will be placed on the eastern coast of Aceh to prevent infiltration of weapons into the province.

They will be guarding a 460 kilometer coastline which is divided into 19 guard posts. (50/edt)