Curfew imposed in North Aceh due to worsening security
Curfew imposed in North Aceh due to worsening security
LHOKSEUMAWE, Aceh (JP): A curfew has been in effect in North
Aceh since last Tuesday, following escalating acts of lawlessness
and intimidation of local people by groups of armed civilians.
Civilian and military leaders in North Aceh have jointly urged
people in the regency not to leave their homes between midnight
and 4:30 a.m. except in emergencies
A joint statement was signed by North Aceh regent Tarmizi A
Karim, North Aceh Legislative Council chairman Mas Tarmansyah,
North Aceh Military District chief Lt. Col. Giyono, North Aceh
Police chief Lt. Col. Iskandar Hasan, the chief of the North Aceh
Prosecutor's Office, Mugni Hamidy, and the chairman of the North
Aceh branch of the Indonesian Council of Ulema, Syamaun Risyad.
The statement was made in response to worsening security and
public order in the regency, which has a population of some one
million people, Antara reported on Friday.
Deteriorating security is the fault of certain groups who have
intentionally created restlessness in the community through the
use of guns and drugs, according to the statement.
"These groups have frequently provoked, intimidated and
threatened the community," the statement said.
Based on the statement, local people who leave their homes
after midnight must carry their identity cards with them, and if
they travel by car or motorcycle they must have their vehicle
documents.
The statement also urged the people of North Aceh to work
together to help restore peace and order in the regency.
Meanwhile, shopping centers and traditional markets here were
deserted on Friday as most vendors were apparently frightened by
rumors that a riot would erupt on June 7, the day of the general
election.
Most wholesalers and retailers substantially reduced the size
and number of their transactions, Antara reported.
Prices of basic commodities have jumped by an average of
between 10 percent and 20 percent in the regency.
In response to the situation, the North Aceh regent has asked
traders not to raise prices because it could cause locals to
become restless.
Lhokseumawe, some 274 kilometers east of the provincial
capital of Banda Aceh, is the busiest industrial city in Aceh.
(hhr)