Aceh police firm on special operation

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): The police vowed on Friday to continue the Cinta Meunasah (Love the Mosques) security operation in Aceh, despite growing public demand that the action be halted.

"Police will not end the special operation in Aceh because security has yet to be restored," the chief of the operation, Sr. Supt. Kusbini Imbar, said here on Friday.

He was responding to growing demands by the public and local students to end the operation, which opponents claim has done nothing to improve security, instead provoking more clashes with Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels.

Protesters have claimed that local residents are the real victims in these recurrent clashes.

But police maintain that the operation has helped ensure better security.

"Despite the increasing number of attacks, the first implementation of the Cinta Meunasah special operation has actually reduced the violence," Kusbini claimed.

Police data shows that in the 10 months since the operation began at least 74 people, including eight soldiers and 11 police officers, have been killed and 127 others injured in Aceh.

The Cinta Meunasah operation consists of sweeps in various villages and searches to locate separatist camps.

Kusbini said the decision to end the operation would have to be made by the National Police chief.

He also noted that GAM rebels had intensified their campaign of violence by initiating bomb and arson attacks on local administration, police and military offices, and other public facilities.

Efforts to end the conflict in the province have led to an accord being signed by the government and GAM representatives, but the violence has continued.

GAM claims that Indonesian security forces have killed some 65 rebels since the humanitarian pause came into effect in June. The security forces say at least 20 of their personnel have been killed by rebels over the same period. (50/51/lup)