Eleven suspected Aceh rebels killed

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.