ExxonMobile monitors situation after threat
ExxonMobile monitors situation after threat
JAKARTA (JP): Responding to statements by separatist rebels in
Aceh that ExxonMobile Oil Indonesia should shut down its
operations in the province for its own safety, the company said
on Thursday it was "closely monitoring the situation".
"We are monitoring the situation in Aceh closely and will take
actions we deem appropriate for the daily circumstances in our
operational areas," the company said in a statement made
available to The Jakarta Post.
The company added that "the safety and well-being of our
employees and contractors remains our highest priority".
"ExxonMobile believes the status of Aceh within Indonesia is a
matter for the Indonesian people to resolve, and our hope it that
a resolution would be accomplished in a peaceful, timely manner,"
the company said.
The statement went on to say: "We are hopeful that the
situation in Aceh will stabilize."
Separatist rebels in Aceh said on Wednesday they had warned
the U.S.-based company to leave the region for its own safety.
"We have urged the top management of ExxonMobile to leave Aceh
immediately, because we cannot guarantee their safety if Jakarta
imposes a state of emergency in Aceh," Abu Sofyan Daud, the North
Aceh-based military commander of the separatist Free Aceh
Movement (GAM), was quoted by AFP as saying.
"We cannot be held responsible for any damage suffered by
Mobil Oil in the event that we attack Indonesian soldiers in the
company's complex," he added.
Abu Sofyan said foreign investors in the resource-rich
province could return to Aceh once it gained independence from
Jakarta.
"We call on them to stop exploiting Aceh's land for the
benefit of the colonialist government in Jakarta, while our
people are starving and killed by Indonesian security forces,"
Abu Sofyan said.
He accused Indonesian military troops and police of misusing
"facilities" provided by the company, ostensibly for the
company's security, to quash separatist rebels.
In the past two years separatist rebels have mounted several
attacks on the company's facilities in the province.
The company temporarily halted exploration and administrative
activities at its headquarters in Lhoksukon, North Aceh, in May
due to security concerns.
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
received arson and bomb threats over the past several weeks.
Violence in Aceh remains unabated despite a humanitarian pause
signed by the government and GAM representatives in May. The
pause was extended for three months in September.
The two sides are due to meet in Geneva at the end of the week
to discuss the humanitarian pause, but top Indonesian officials
have said they do not wish to reextend the accord.
But some locals in Banda Aceh are still expressing hope the
talks will bring peace to the troubled province.
"We hope not too much violence will take place this year," the
chairman of Muhhamadiyah in Aceh, Imam Suja', said.
"Do not sacrifice the people," he added.
The Forum for Human Rights Awareness in Aceh put the death
toll in the province in 2000 at 951 -- 763 civilians, 135
security officers and 53 rebels from the Free Aceh Movement.
At least 1,270 others were injured and 410 remain missing.
On Thursday, three bodies were discovered in East Timur and
Aceh Besar -- one each in Arakundo River, Semanthok village and
Cot Iri.
Meanwhile, the deputy spokesman of the Cinta Meunasah police
operation, Adj. Chief Comr. Yatim Suyatmo renewed his warning for
all people to turn in illegal firearms.
He said a thorough house-to-house search for firearms would
take place on Jan. 16, a day after the humanitarian pause
expires.(50/edt/lup/byg)