Councilor's son named suspect

BANDA ACEH, Aceh: The police named on Thursday a student activist, who is the son of the province's council speaker, as a suspect for allegedly instilling hatred toward the government during Wednesday's rally against ExxonMobil Oil Indonesia.

Kautsar Mohd. Yus, chairman of the Central Committee of the Movement for Acehnese Democratic Struggle, was arrested along with two friends after the rally, which accused the company of financing the Indonesian Military (TNI) in violating human rights during the past decade.

The rally also called on the Acehnese to stop paying state taxes as their money may be used to purchase weapons that may be used against them.

Two other student activists had been released.

Aceh Besar Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Sayed Hoesainy said the suspect had violated Articles 154 and 160 of the Criminal Code on spreading hatred against the government.

The situation in the violence-torn province remained tense following a fresh attack by unknown armed groups against a military joint-battalion in the early hours of Thursday morning. A military personnel was killed and three others injured when the 40-strong joint-battalion were passing Padang Seulimeng, Setia Bakti regency of West Aceh.

The dead soldier was identified as Second Pvt. Wahyudi, a member of the army's special force, while the injured: Julius Fernando, Imam Naim, and Swarsono were members of the West Java Siliwangi infantry brigade. (50)