23 die in Aceh within 10 days: Kontras
JAKARTA (JP): A week after the announced redeployment of Crack Riot Troops from unrest-prone areas in the tormented Aceh province, violence escalated and at least 23 people have been killed in less than 10 days.
The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) revealed in a media briefing on Friday that between Aug. 19 and Aug. 27 at least 23 people were found dead with gunshot and stab wounds. Ten of them remained unidentified, according to Kontras coordinator Munir.
"There have been several exchanges of gunfire, arbitrary arrests and mysterious killings in some areas, a week after Minister of Defense and Security (Gen. Wiranto) announced the redeployment of PPRM ( Crack Riot Troops)," Munir said.
The bodies of the victims were found in separate areas of West Aceh, North Aceh, East Aceh and Pidie, Munir said.
Wiranto announced last week that the military would redeploy the PPRM fighting separatists guerrillas in the strife-torn province to strategic locations such as the Arun gas plant, or return them to the barracks.
The military, he said, would temporarily halt its offensive operations -- tracking down separatist rebels and weapons -- to prevent more victims among innocent people.
Wiranto had said the troops would be withdrawn from their respective operation zones, although some would be deployed to safeguard strategic projects in the province.
"We still see military troops in at least five areas, including transmigrants' residential areas," Munir said.
Munir cited areas like Bukit Cemara and Krueng Meuseugob in East Aceh where military troops remained on alert, based on the "pretext" that they were safeguarding transmigrants' residences which were said to be government assets.
To avoid more problems in the province, Munir said, Wiranto's plan to reestablish the Iskandar Muda Military Command in the province should be reconsidered and if necessary halted. The command is scheduled to be set up on Sept. 1.
Meanwhile, Pidie Police precinct chief Lt. Col. Endang Bagus said the police were detaining eight alleged members of the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) who were arrested during a military raid last month.
Endang claimed the suspects, especially Umar Puntong, knew much about GAM's military strategy. Umar lost one of his legs when personnel of the Army's Special Force (Kopassus) shot him a few years ago.
"Umar was intensively involved in the armed separatist movement," said Endang.
Meanwhile, refugees in Pidie demanded the military rebuild at least 80 houses in the districts of Meureudu, Trienggadeng and Titeu Keumala. They said the military destroyed their houses after they fled to various makeshift refugee centers recently.
Antara reported on Friday that daily activities had slowly returned to normal in Pidie, North Aceh and East Aceh regencies. Intercity buses have also resumed operating, and many schools have reopened.
Earlier reports said that up to 15,000 schools in Aceh had either been set ablaze or damaged in armed conflict between separatist rebels and the military.
Violence-torn areas like Juluk district in East Aceh, Simpang Kandang and Muara Dua in North Aceh have started to witness a return of normal daily activities. Local marketplaces have reopened.
Provincial officials said in capital Banda Aceh on Thursday that the number of refugees in various centers had drastically dropped from 180,000, including 150,000 in Pidie alone, to about half in the whole province. In Pidie, 58,000 refugees remain.
Coordinator of volunteers in Pidie, Ilyas, however, warned the number could increase again if the military and local government failed to fulfill their promise to guarantee their safety and rebuild their damaged or burned houses.
"The government must act quickly to help them build their houses," said Ilyas.
Meanwhile, Serambi Indonesia daily reported on Friday that police found three dead bodies in Cot Blang Awe in Pidie on Thursday. Police said they were unable to identify the victims, but promised to bury them in accordance with Islamic law. (44/51/emf/prb)