Army chief defends TNI aggression

Army chief defends TNI aggression

JAKARTA: Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu said on Monday that the Indonesian Military (TNI) troops opened fire in conflict-torn areas in self-defense.

"About 80 percent of the gunfights between the TNI and rebels in conflict-ridden regions were sparked by ambushes and attacks by rebels, such as those in Aceh and Irian Jaya," he said after a ceremony at the Army Headquarters.

Between June 2000 and April 2001 in Aceh, some 50 TNI soldiers were killed in clashes with Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatist rebels, while 206 were injured and eight were listed as missing.

In Maluku, about 55 TNI officers were killed, 169 were injured and three were missing since January of this year.

Ryamizard said the TNI would continue fighting separatist movements in the country.-- Antara