Armed rebels launch two more attacks
Armed rebels launch two more attacks
BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Police on Wednesday said that armed
rebels had launched yet more hit-and-run attacks, this time on an
arms storage depot and a district religious affairs office.
No casualties were reported in either of the Tuesday night
incidents.
The first attack occurred when rebels launched a mortar attack
on an arms depot in Pulo Rungkom village, Lhokseumawe.
North Aceh Police Precinct chief Supt. Abadan Bangko on
Wednesday estimated that five mortar projectiles were fired at
the depot, "however no fatalities or major damage was reported as
the rebels missed the target".
Free Aceh Movement (GAM) spokesman Abu Sofyan Daud confirmed
the attack saying it was launched in retaliation for Indonesia
security forces' alleged violations of the Humanitarian Pause.
The second attack occurred when a bomb exploded at the
religious affairs office in Suka Makmur district, in Aceh Besar,
shattering windows and damaging some rooms in the building.
Religious affairs offices across the province have been the
frequent targets of such attacks.
The deputy commander of the Cinta Meunasah police operation,
Supt. Yatim Suyatmo, said that after the explosion another bomb
went off near the Lambaro bridge, Inginjaya district, in Aceh
Besar.
However, the blast failed to damage the bridge," Yatim was
quoted by Antara as saying.
He added that the bridge, linking Banda Aceh and the Blang
Bintang area, escaped damage as the bomb was not powerful enough.
While violence continued on the ground, negotiators of the
Humanitarian Pause continued to work on the administrative
aspects of the accord.
The Banda Aceh-based Joint Committee on Security Modalities
revealed on Wednesday that a six-member monitoring team would be
set up in each of the four most clash-prone regencies -- Pidie,
North Aceh, East Aceh and South Aceh.
The teams would be tasked with providing immediate reports on
possible clashes occurring between the security forces and GAM.
The teams are expected to comprise religious and community
leaders and non-governmental organizations.(50/lup)