Death toll in Aceh tumult reaches 179 this year

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Nine more people were reported killed in Aceh in the last two days, raising the death toll for the year to 179.

A total of 151 civilians, 15 Indonesian Military (TNI) members and 13 policemen were recorded as casualties in the continuing violence in the restive province.

The toll is expected to rise and may well exceed last year's total of 293 as a political solution to end the violence has yet to be found.

Last month the National Police announced that 202 civilians were among those killed in Aceh last year.

The latest deaths occurred at three separate places on Thursday.

Six men, believed to be members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), were shot in Panggong village in Krueng Sabe district, West Aceh, military resort chief Col. Syarifuddin Tippe said in Meulaboh.

However, Abu Khaidir, the GAM spokesman in Krueng Sabe, said the six victims were farmers working in their fields who were caught in the crossfire of the clash between GAM and the military took place.

Still in West Aceh, two men were found dead at an oil palm plantation with their throats cut.

Local police said the two, Kariono and Karim, were workers of the plantation in Darul Makmur district. Their bodies were sent to Meulaboh hospital.

In North Aceh a civilian, identified as Zulkifli Adam, 45, was shot dead by two unidentified youths in front of junior high school SMP Seunuddon, North Aceh Police hief Lt. Col. Syafei Aksal said on Thursday.

Also on Thursday a resident of Lhoksukon, Ibrahim, 35, survived a shooting by an unknown man.

In North Aceh, a 10-year-old girl, Ainol Mardhiah, was hurt when a grenade was thrown at Samudra Police Station.

Police said unidentified man threw the grenade as the girl played in the station's yard. (50/sur)