Bomb blast, gunfight add to fears in Aceh
Bomb blast, gunfight add to fears in Aceh
BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): A gunfight in Lhokseumawe, North Aceh,
and an explosion in Banda Aceh further shook the province on
Wednesday evening.
No fatalities were reported in the incidents as a campaign of
terror believed to be the work of armed rebels continued, a
police officer said on Thursday.
The deputy chief of operations with the Banda Aceh Police,
Supt. Y. Suyatmo, said a homemade bomb exploded at an office
complex on Jl. Malahayati in Kampung Mulia village. The complex
is home to the local offices of the Environmental Impact
Management Agency and the National Land Agency.
The blast damaged the office complex's front gate and
shattered three windows of a building in the complex, he said.
A security officer at the scene said the explosion could be
heard within a radius of seven kilometers.
In North Aceh regency, a three-hour gunfight and an explosion
occurred some 274 kilometers from the regency capital of
Lhokseumawe on Wednesday evening.
The gunfight paralyzed daily activities in the area as local
residents stayed in their homes.
In a related development, the separatist Free Aceh Movement
(GAM) released on Wednesday evening 16-year-old Sayed Ikram, the
son of Aceh Besar Police chief Supt. Sayed Hoesainy. He had been
missing for two weeks.
Rebel spokesman Tengku Amni bin Marzuki said Ikram was handed
over to GAM by residents for his alleged role in drug
trafficking.
Ikram said that during his 11-day detention at GAM
headquarters, located some 60 kilometers east of Banda Aceh, he
took part in the group's disciplinary program, which included
religious teaching and counseling to avoid becoming involved in
drug-related activities.
During his release, Ikram, said he was treated well and fed
properly by his captors.
Ikram hugged Aceh Besar GAM commander Abu Tazurra before
bidding farewell to the movement members.
His father, Sayed, expressed his gratitude to representatives
from the GAM Joint Action for Humanitarianism, the GAM Aceh Ulema
Council and the Henry Dunant Center for ensuring his son's smooth
release.
The release of Ikram led to a palpable sense of relief among
residents, shaken by the continuing violence in the province.
Separately, Aceh Police chief Brig. Gen. Doddy Sumatyawan
hinted that the release might indicate an opportunity to resolve
the conflict between GAM and the authorities through peaceful
dialog, Antara news agency reported on Wednesday.
A similar statement was made by the head of the Indonesian
Ulema Council, Imam Suja. He said the release could be
interpreted as a sign GAM was opening up the opportunity for
talks aimed at intensifying peaceful efforts to end the violence
in the province. (lup/50)