Aceh refugees still staying away

Thu, 21 Oct 2004, 00:00 WIB | Source: JP

BANDA ACEH, Aceh: Thousands of Acehnese refugees from East
Aceh regency have not returned to the regency because of the
continued conflict here, a senior government official said on
Wednesday.

Djafar Latif, the head of East Aceh Regency National Welfare
Office said the refugees had left for other regencies in the
province and various places nationwide following major military
operations last year that intensified the conflict in Aceh
between the Indonesian Military personnel and the rebel Free Aceh
Movement (GAM) members.

Clashes between government soldiers and rebels continue,
albeit less frequent, as a sizable number of GAM rebels (some
1,800) still exist throughout Aceh. -- JP

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