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)