Anti-GAM raids continue despite catastrophe

Anti-GAM raids continue despite catastrophe

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

While volunteers, security officers and families are busy
collecting and searching for the bodies of victims killed in
Sunday's catastrophic tsunami in Aceh, soldiers are continuing
their offensive against separatist rebels.

A recent cease-fire offered by the military for Free Aceh
Movement (GAM) members, whose hideouts were not affected by the
tsunami, appear to be mere rhetoric.

A GAM spokesman said on Thursday the military had killed two
separatist guerrillas, including the commander of the Peurelak
area in East Aceh, Afrizal bin Abdul Manaf, during crossfire.

The soldiers also burned a house belonging to a villager in
Idi Rayeuk, East Aceh, he added.

The Indonesian Military (TNI) headquarters did not
categorically confirm that gunfire had erupted in the aftermath
of the calamity in Aceh, but said the war on GAM had not been put
on hold.

Reports from the field said hundreds of troops were raiding
GAM hideouts across East and North Aceh, which had been
devastated by the tsunami.

TNI officer Lt. Col. D.J. Nachrowi said the calamity should
not be seen as a way for the military to suspend security
operations against GAM.

"We are now carrying out two duties: humanitarian work and the
security operation.

"The raids to quell the secessionist movement in Aceh will
continue unless the President issues a decree to lift the civil
emergency and assign us to merely play a humanitarian role in
Aceh," Nachrowi said on Thursday.

The military operation in East Aceh has focused on several
areas in Idie, covering Teupin Batee, Seunebok Langa, Gampung
Jalan, Kuburan Cina, Buket Linteung and Buket Jok.

Another group of hundreds of soldiers were tracking down GAM
members in three subdistricts in North Aceh: Makmur, Gandapura
and Peusangan.

Sweeping operations also continued there, becoming a routine
sight for local villagers.

From Sweden, GAM spokesman Bakhtiar Abdullah blasted TNI chief
Gen. Endriartono Sutarto for reneging on his offer for a cease-
fire with the rebels and on his pledge to assign most of his
troops for relief efforts. The military commander had asked the
guerrillas to do the same.

"Endriartono's offer of a cease-fire was a lie," Bakhtiar
said.

In Jakarta, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono urged the
rebels in the earthquake and tsunami-ravaged province to lay down
their weapons and join efforts to rebuild the region. He also
called for a permanent end to the decades-long rebellion.

"I call on those who are still fighting, to come out... let us
use this historic moment to join and be united again," Susilo
said as quoted by AFP.

The continuing separatist fighting raised concern from
humanitarian aid workers who are distributing vital aid for the
tsunami victims currently languishing at refugee camps across
Aceh.

They said their safety would be at risk if the TNI and GAM did
not respect a cease-fire in the province, with two thirds of its
territory ravaged by tidal waves.

The GAM has been fighting for independence since 1976. The
government launched massive military operations in May 2003 and
with gunfights taking place every day. No less than 2,500 people,
including civilians, have been killed in the operation to date.