Blast mars Boyce's visit to Aceh

Blast mars Boyce's visit to Aceh

Ibnu Mat Noor, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh

At least 11 people were injured when a grenade exploded in Banda
Aceh on Monday morning ahead of the arrival of United States
Ambassador to Indonesia Ralph "Skip" Boyce in this restive Aceh
capital for a three-day visit.

The victims included eight-year-old Rizki Nazira and her
father Ansari, 40 and mother Khairiah, 36, who are being treated
for serious wounds.

Witnesses said the grenade was thrown at a Vespa motorcycle
belonging to Ansari. A police patrol car parked nearby was also
damaged.

"It is an uncivilized act," Banda Aceh Police chief Adj. Sr.
Comr. Sayet Hoesainy said at the scene.

He blamed separatist rebels for the blast, which took place at
8:30 a.m. outside the main Bank Negara Indonesia office and the
Aceh Shopping Market (PAS). The Free Aceh Movement (GAM) has
denied responsibility for the incident.

The blast occurred at least 1.5 hours before Ambassador Boyce
arrived in the city at 10 a.m. on a commercial plane to meet with
Deputy Aceh Governor Azwar Abubakar and other local senior
officials.

Boyce declined to comment on the closed-door meeting as he is
scheduled to give a press conference on Tuesday at the Darussalam
State Academy of Islamic Studies (IAIN).

Sources said Boyce and Azwar discussed political issues,
including the promotion of peace talks between the Aceh
government and GAM.

However, Azwar said he and Boyce talked about the possibility
of U.S. assistance to implement the wide-ranging autonomy package
for Aceh.

"The U.S. government supports the unity of Indonesia. He wants
to see the Aceh conflict end peacefully through dialog," he
added.

It was the ambassador's first visit to Aceh since he assumed
office in Jakarta last year. He will end the trip on Wednesday,
during which he will also meet police and military leaders.