23 die in Aceh within 10 days: Kontras

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Wiranto had said the troops would be withdrawn from their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)