Aceh rebels admit attack on police
BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatist rebels admitted on Monday to having attacked Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) officers in Nisam district of North Aceh, killing three of them and severely injuring five others.
GAM representative in the joint security committee, Amni bin Ahmad Marzuki, told the media at Hotel Kuala Tripa here the ambush on Sunday was conducted "for self-defense". A GAM member was shot dead in the clash.
Amni said there were conflicting chronologies between the security forces and GAM on the incident, but confirmed "it was done by GAM members and we express sincere condolences to the victims' families."
"We hope that none of these things will ever occur again," he said.
But gunfights between security forces and GAM reportedly continued in Nisam, Kuta Makmur and Muara Dua in North Aceh. No immediate report on casualties was available.
Head of the government representatives to the joint committee on security modalities set up to implement the truce, Senior Superintendent Ridwan Karim, said he has already filed a protest with GAM and a higher forum in Geneva over the attack.
"Security forces will track down the shooters as the ambush clearly violates the ground rules already agreed between the Republic of Indonesia and GAM," Ridwan said.
The three-month truce, signed in Geneva in May and effective on June 2, calls for both sides to reduce tension and violence in Aceh by confining their troops and laying down their weapons.
GAM commander in North Aceh Abu Sofyan Daud said the incident was not intentional but was unavoidable.
"We encountered the Brimob officers as we were trying to evade pursuit by members of the sub-district military command in Buloh Blang Ara," Daud said.
Separately in Jakarta, the Ministry for Political Affairs and Security Spokesman Brig. Gen. I Wayan Karya said the humanitarian aid in Aceh will be mainly used to supply basic necessities and provide education for children.
"The Coordinating Ministry of People's Welfare and Poverty Eradication has setup a task force to handle all humanitarian aid to ensure that it will go straight to the people," Wayan said after the political affairs and security meeting on Monday.
The government will sign an agreement with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to coordinate the disbursement and gathering of the humanitarian aid for Aceh form inside or outside the country. No definite schedule has been set for the signing.
"Only the Coordinating Ministry of People's Welfare and Poverty Eradication and UNDP are authorized to receive and disburse humanitarian aid for Aceh. All aid goes through only one door at the two agencies," he added. (50/edt/dja)