Eleven killed in fresh armed conflict in Aceh

Eleven killed in fresh armed conflict in Aceh

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): At least 11 people were killed in an
armed clash in the strife-torn province on Wednesday night, local
police spokesman Adj. Comr. Sudharsono said on Thursday.

Eight of the 11 victims were killed in an alleged ambush by a
group of 13 members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) at the
village of Darul Aman, Simpang Kiri district in South Aceh,
Sudharsono said.

In the ambush five other civilians were severely injured with
nine houses being burned down, he said.

GAM's senior commander Amri Abdul Wahab told The Jakarta Post
by phone on Thursday, denying the police's accusation of an
ambush.

"I've contacted all GAM commanders in South Aceh and found out
that all of them were at their own headquarters. There was no
operation launched on Wednesday night," he said.

"As far as I know, all transmigrants there were friendly
toward us. Therefore, I'm wondering whether the killings were
conducted by the Indonesian Military (TNI) to corner GAM
members," he said.

Meanwhile, on the same day at least three GAM members were
killed in armed clashes with the military in the villages of Cot
Awe Jumpa, Bireun regency and Ulee Gajah in East Aceh regency,
said Lt. Col. CHB Firdaus, TNI spokesman in Aceh.

When it was confirmed to Abdul Wahab, he also denied the
claim.

"The report I received showed that six TNI soldiers were
killed in the village of Cot Para on Wednesday night, while all
GAM members were safe," he said.

Firdaus also denied Abdul Wahab's claim, saying "GAM's
condition is already weak now. They are just issuing propaganda
claiming that they can defeat TNI."

Meanwhile in Jakarta, Coordinating Minister for Political and
Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono reiterated on Thursday
that the government would not withdraw its military and police
personnel from Aceh.

"Many have asked us to withdraw military and police personnel
from Aceh should both parties hold peaceful talks there. But,
considering the armed group in the province (in this case GAM)
has continued to take a confrontational approach against central
government, we have decided not to withdraw our troops from
there," Susilo told a media conference, after a meeting on
political and security matters at his office.

Present at the meeting were Minister of Defense Matori Abdul
Djalil, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda, State
Minister of Communications and Information Syamsul Mu'arif and
the Indonesian Military (TNI) chief, Adm. Widodo A.S.

"If the GAM are willing to put down their weapons and are
ready to sit down together with us peacefully, of course the
presence of the TNI and police personnel would no longer be
needed there," Susilo said. (50/tso)