Aceh death toll since peace pact reaches 28

LHOKSEUMAWE, Aceh (JP): Uneasy calm returned here on Friday following a fatal shooting involving members of military police which claimed the lives of two officers and injured eight others in Lhokseumawe a day earlier.

Lt. Simon, a military police member and Sgt. Maj. Farulian of the North Aceh Police Precinct died in a gunfight in front of Lilawangsa Military Command office here on Thursday.

In a bid to ease tension, Aceh Police chief Brig. Gen. Bahrumsyah made a brief visit to the Lilawangsa Military office on Friday morning.

The incident was reportedly sparked by a military police member who seized a motorcycle belonging to a policeman on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, at least 10 people, including three alleged rebels were killed in various clashes in Aceh from Wednesday to Friday.

The death toll has reached at least 28 since the signing of a peace accord between Jakarta and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in Geneva on May 12. More than 400 people have been killed in Aceh this year. (50/edt)