Acehnese gear up for mass gathering

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): With the Acehnese mass gathering approaching, more people are heading to the capital of Banda Aceh, leaving many areas in the strife-torn province paralyzed and unguarded, residents said on Tuesday.

"Banda Aceh is getting busier as thousands of people from across the province have arrived and many more are coming in to join the gathering," said Muhammad Harun, a leading figure from Laweung village, Pidie regency in Banda Aceh's Lambada seaport, some 10 kilometers east of here.

Another resident said some 1,500 Laweung residents arrived on Monday in eight motorboats as the roads were heavily guarded by security personnel. Security personnel are stopping people and public transportation from entering the capital.

"Security personnel were seen on the streets, forcing people to return home," the resident, who refused to be named, said.

Tension rose on Tuesday as hundreds of police personnel fired warning shots to disperse some 100 visiting boats carrying thousands of residents from across the province as they attempted to dock at the Lampulo fishing port on Krueng Aceh river, Banda Aceh.

The residents had earlier ignored orders from the police, who were overseeing the Krueng Aceh river area, not to pass across the river into Banda Aceh. They later decided to remain in their boats as police reinforcements had blockaded the river port.

The warning shots panicked shoppers at nearby Peunayong market, forcing traders to close their shops early.

The mass gathering, organized by the Information Center for Aceh Referendum (CIRA), is slated to be held on Nov. 11 at the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque in Banda Aceh to commemorate the first anniversary of the call for a referendum and to foster unity and brotherhood among the Acehnese. Last year's event was attended by at least one million people.

While calling on Acehnese to join the event, CIRA chairman Muhammad Nazar vowed on Tuesday that the gathering would be a peaceful one and attendees were not allowed to carry weapons.

Market places in Banda Aceh were thronged with shoppers, anticipating businesses to close before the event.

Residents said enthusiasm to attend the gathering had paralyzed activities in their hometowns, especially as no public transportation was operating, following an order issued by security authorities to cease public transportation services for a few days.

Separately, Aceh Police special operation Cinta Meunasah spokesman Sr. Supt. Kusbini Imbar said on Monday that the police have learned that the people were forced to attend the gathering.

"It's better for them to return home and resume their daily activities," he said, stressing that the police had no special security plans but they would remain alert.

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Meanwhile, violence in Aceh broke out in two locations on Monday, leaving a resident dead and injuring four security personnel.

North Aceh Police precinct chief Supt. Abadan Bangko said on Tuesday that the four personnel were shot when 40 alleged members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) ambushed two patrolling trucks of security personnel in Bugeng village, Peudada district, Bireuen regency on Monday.

The men, armed with AK-47 and M-16 rifles, initiated the attack before they disappeared into the forest.

Abadan said a few hours later, a group of civilians, armed with a grenade launcher, attacked the Samalanga Military Subdistrict Command in Bireuen regency. No fatalities were reported as the grenade missed the target and exploded some six meters away from the military headquarters.

Kusbini said on Tuesday that security personnel had raided an empty GAM headquarters in Sarang Jaya village, Hilir district, East Aceh regency. The police found and seized one Ruger semi automatic rifle, 88 bullets, a magazine (for holding bullet cartridges) and a handy-talky.

Meanwhile, Aceh Besar precinct chief Supt. Sayed Hoesainy said a resident of Darussalam village in Banda Aceh, named Sudaryanto, was killed by two thugs at his store in Gue Gajah village, Daruh Imarah district on Monday. The motive is unknown. (50/lup)