Eleven suspected Aceh rebels killed

Eleven people suspected of being members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) were killed in a gunfight with the Indonesian Military (TNI) in Keumala Lengau village, a subdistrict of East Aceh regency, on Saturday afternoon.

Military spokesman Maj. Zaenal Mutaqin told the media in Lhokseumawe on Sunday that the military also confiscated eight firearms and 715 bullets during the military operation.

"None of the 11 bodies has been identified yet, but none were members of the TNI," he was quoted by Antara as saying.

He added that the eight firearms were one AK-47, five AK-45, one HK-33 and one pistol.

The incident occurred when 91 soldiers under the command of Capt. Priyanto Eko were searching for 40 suspected members of GAM in the area.

According to him, the search was conducted after local residents reported that 40 men thought to be members of GAM had arrived in the area by speedboat.

They allegedly wanted to intimidate locals into staying away from a soccer and volleyball competition sponsored by the TNI and to cause unrest among them.

According to the residents, the GAM members reportedly fired into the air from two directions in order to convince them not to participate in or watch the competition.

Zaenal said that after the firefight, which lasted for about half an hour, the soldiers searched the area and found the 11 bodies.

GAM could not be contacted for comment.

Last Saturday, soldiers also shot dead one person suspected of being a GAM member and confiscated a pistol in the Ie Seu'um area in Krueng Raya, East Aceh.

Maj. Ertoto, the deputy commander of the Teuku Umar military regiment, said the body had been handed over to local residents for burial.

GAM has been fighting for an independent state for decades in a bloody conflict that has killed more civilians than soldiers and GAM members.