Exxon halts activities in troubled Aceh

Exxon halts activities in troubled Aceh

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Giant American oil company Exxon-Oil,
has temporarily halted exploration and administrative activities
in Aceh due to rising concerns over security.

Sources at the company, formerly known as Mobil Oil Indonesia,
said several of the more 2,000 workers at the company's
headquarters in Lhoksukon, an industrial regency in North Aceh
located some 32 kilometers east of Lhokseumawe, would temporarily
stay home until the situation improved.

Some employees reportedly received threats, including
anonymous telephone calls warning their housing complexes would
be burned down.

The company's compounds in Matangkuli and Lhoksukon have been
the target of arson and bomb attacks in the past few weeks.

The situation in the province remains tense as violence
continues on a daily basis.

The latest incident on Tuesday resulted in the death of a man,
identified as M. Nasir, who was shot in Pidie by a group of eight
armed assailants.

Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Adm. Widodo A.S. acknowledged
in Jakarta on Tuesday the province was increasingly tense in
recent weeks.

He stressed, however, that the military would not send
reinforcements to the province.

"The main point is we will continue to enforce law and will
decide measures to be taken after receiving a full report from
the local police officials," Widodo said after attending a
ministerial meeting on political and security affairs.

Lilawangsa Military Commander Col. Syarifudin Tippe was
invited to the meeting to brief top government officials on the
situation in Aceh.

"We all know that troops never really solve problem, and only
will increase tension there," Syarifudin said.

Peace

Despite the tension, there are signs the strife-torn province
may be about to enter a new phase with a peace agreement expected
to be signed this week in Geneva between Jakarta and Free Aceh
Movement (GAM) officials.

GAM spokesman Ismail Syahputra called on the people to hold a
prayer for peace and order in the province as GAM leaders hold a
dialog with the Indonesian government.

"We don't want any Acehnese to be hurt anymore," Ismail said
in Aceh.

Meanwhile in the continuation of the Tengku Bantaqiah trial on
Monday, a civilian witness, Zainuddin alias Aman Dolah, 50,
recounted the events which led to the death of 57 people in
Beutong Ateuh village in West Aceh on July 23 last year.

Zainuddin, who acted as a guide for the troops, said Lt. Col.
Sudjono and Capt. Anton Yuliantoro conducted a raid on the
boarding school in the village. He testified a disturbance began
after one of the soldiers struck Tengku Bantaqiah's son, Tengku
Usman.

He said Sudjono ordered the execution of a number of wounded
civilians in the military operation.

Zainuddin's account was questioned by the court as it often
differed from his earlier written deposition.

The court is adjourned until Wednesday. (dja/50/51/edt)