Arson attacks continue, 10 killed in Aceh

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): At least 10 dead bodies have been found and 120 houses burned in three separate areas in the past two days, officials said on Wednesday.

Aceh Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Sad Harunantyo confirmed the incidents and alleged that Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatist rebels were behind the killings and arson attacks.

"The attacks are probably retaliatory attacks after police and Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel held massive raids in East Aceh and other areas," Harunantyo said.

Manyak Payed district head Amiruddin Yusuf said the burned houses in his area belonged to local residents, but he declined to comment on the alleged perpetrators of the incidents, which took place on Tuesday night.

As of Wednesday evening, some 600 homeless villagers were taking shelter at mosques and military installations.

Amiruddin also said that four people were found dead in Aluer Sentang village. The bodies were sent to state Langsa Hospital, with preliminary examinations indicating that they had been tortured with sharp weapons before being shot dead.

Separately, East Aceh Police chief Sr. Comr. Bambang Prayitno said the four people were all members of the rebel group who were killed when trying to attack a patrolling joint police-military team in the village.

In South Aceh, local military spokesman Maj. Sulistiadie claimed on Wednesday that four rebels were shot dead during a gunfight with Army personnel in the Panton Pauh area.

The claim, however, was denied by GAM spokesman Ayah Panggeng, who said that none of the four fatalities were GAM members.

Meanwhile, in Aceh Besar and Banda Aceh, two male bodies with severe gunshot wounds were found on Wednesday. (50/emf)