Aceh troops brace for mass strike

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The military and police in Aceh are anticipating a mass strike during the celebration of Independence Day on Aug. 17 in the restive province.

Police chief Insp. Gen. Yusuf Manggabarani told a media conference the security personnel had heard rumors of a mass strike circulating in the westernmost province.

"Although it's only a rumor, we are ready to anticipate any strike call and ask the people not to be easily provoked," Yusuf said on Tuesday.

He said security troops would maintain order and peace ahead of the national celebration, so that there would be no reason for people to stop their activities.

Yusuf asserted there would be no deployment of reinforcements in connection with the Independence Day celebration.

Provincial military spokesman Lt. Col. Firdaus, who accompanied Yusuf during the media meeting, called on Aceh residents to hoist the red and white flag in observance of the national day.

"It's not an order, because all Indonesian nationals normally raise the flag to honor Independence Day," Firdaus said.

Natural resource-rich Aceh has been rocked by a rebellion waged by the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) since the mid-1970s.

Meanwhile, a Muslim cleric was gunned down in the latest killing of a community leader in Aceh. A military officer, Maj. Zaenal Muttaqien, said Tengku Ismail Osman was fatally shot late Monday in front of his house on the outskirts of Lhokseumawe

Separately, Jafit Zaim of the Indonesian Red Cross said two other bodies were discovered Tuesday on the outskirts of Lhokseumawe.