Death toll in Aceh tumult reaches 179 this year

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)