Eleven people killed in 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 phoned The Jakarta Post 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, adding that GAM would not issue details of its victims for fear of demoralizing its members.

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)