Aceh Police chief vows to end illegal levies

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Aceh Police chief Brig. Gen. Chaerul Rasjid urged truck drivers plying Banda Aceh-Medan route to end their strike and promised to take stern measures against officers collecting illegal levies along the route.

"I hope all truck drivers will resume operations and I guarantee that there will be no more illegal levies," Chaerul said after meeting with provincial councillors and truck driver representatives on Saturday.

"I've ordered all police precinct chiefs to ensure their men stop collecting illegal fees. Stern action will be taken on personnel who do not heed orders, including removal from the police force," the general said.

Chaerul also revealed that most of the officers collecting levies were Police Mobile Brigade stationed here from Jakarta.

"We will pull them out," he asserted.

Chairman of the Aceh's Organization of Land Transportation Owners (Organda) Oesman Banta expressed his satisfaction over the police's gesture and said drivers will resume work.

On Sunday, however, only a few trucks dared to ply the Banda Aceh -- Medan route.

Certain police and military personnel were said to be extorting fees from truck drivers passing the route in which a driver may have to fork out as much as Rp 500,000 per trip as there are dozens of posts in every regency in Aceh.

Due to the strike Acehnese have suffered shortages of staple food and the prices of various food stuffs from mineral water to vegetables have risen rapidly.

Meanwhile the trail of violence in Aceh on Saturday and Sunday saw the death of at least six people.

In West Aceh, Sgt. Alhadi Sahid died on Sunday as a result of severe gunshot wounds when he was ambushed by Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels in Setia Bakti district late on Friday.

In North Aceh, an alleged rebel named Jaelani was shot dead on Sunday around 10 a.m. by a passing military patrol in Rambot village in Lhoksukon regency.

"He fled the scene and was shot during the chase," local police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Wanto Sumardi said.

In East Aceh a man was shot in front of his house by unknown gunmen in Tanoh Anoe village on Saturday.

Idi Rayeuk Police chief Second Insp. Agus Tami said on Sunday that three other fatalities -- all employees of a palm-oil plantation in Birem Bayeun district -- were killed by gunmen on Saturday. (50/edt)