Fears of food shortage in Aceh

Fears of food shortage in Aceh

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

As schools throughout Aceh continue to burn, trucks distributing
food are now being torched in what may be a campaign to create
food shortages in the war-torn province.

As the death toll increases as the battle rages between
government troops and Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatists, food
supplies from the neighboring province of North Sumatra have all
but ceased.

Even the distribution of food from the provincial capital of
Banda Aceh to regencies throughout the province has stopped as
transportation grinds to a virtual halt due to the worsening
security conditions.

Despite the heavy troop deployment, truck drivers, who are
used to delivering food supplies to Aceh and its regencies, said
Thursday that they were too scared to enter Aceh after receiving
threats from unidentified people.

"We are afraid to take our trucks to Aceh because of the
worrying security, especially after the burning of several trucks
along the Medan-Banda Aceh route," truck driver Buyung was quoted
by Antara as saying.

Traders in Banda Aceh said the limited supply had prompted
food prices to skyrocket, with commodities such as eggs and
cooking oil increasing in price by as much as 30 percent.

Meanwhile, clashes between government troops and rebels
continued unabated on Thursday, the fourth day of a massive
military campaign aimed at "crushing" GAM, which has been
fighting for independence for the resource-rich province since
1976.

Aceh military commander Maj. Gen. Endang Suwarya said intense
fighting with GAM rebels was taking place in East Aceh, West Aceh
and Aceh Besar regencies, in which five GAM members were killed.

Endang claimed that the TNI had so far arrested 21 GAM
suspects and killed about 30 others. He said 11 military
personnel had been injured in the operations.

Endang said those arrested had told authorities they were
responsible for the burning of 287 school buildings, mainly in
the Pidie and Bireuen regencies, in the past few days.

Asked to comment on reports that 10 civilians, including a 12-
year old boy were executed in North Aceh on Wednesday, TNI
spokesman Lt. Col. Yani Basuki, speaking in Lhokseumawe, said the
incidents may have happened as GAM members were hiding among
civilians.

In a bid to prevent GAM members from escaping to neighboring
countries such as Malaysia and Singapore, the Navy has sent 12
warships to guard sea borders around the province.

"Our troops control Nasi Island in Aceh waters, which is known
as a transit point for GAM members fleeing the province," Navy
chief of staff Adm. Bernard Kent Sondakh said on Thursday.

The Navy had sent 14 other warships and several other ships to
Aceh for the "law enforcement operation", Bernard said.

The government has admitted it has problems delivering basic
goods to the Acehnese due to the security situation, but says it
has ensured there would be sufficient rice stocks of up to 45,000
tons in the province.

Endang said GAM had torched buses and five trucks carrying
food supplies along the Medan to Banda Aceh highway on Wednesday
night.

Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh said the local administration
would immediately launch market operations and find other means
to deliver food.

Food distribution and education were the first victims of the
renewed military operation, which followed a failure by parties
to find a peaceful solution.

As of Thursday it was reported that around 40,000 students in
Aceh could no longer continue their studies after 287 school
buildings in five regencies in Aceh were burned.

Both sides have blamed the other for the arsons, which
happened under the noses of more than 40,000 Indonesian Military
(TNI) troops and police officers present in Aceh.

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said in Jakarta on Thursday that the
government never suspected that GAM would adopt a scorched earth
policy and attack public facilities.

He said security officers had difficulties in supervising the
large province, which contained an estimated 8,000 villages.

Assessing the worsening situation, President Megawati
Soekarnoputri instructed related ministers to immediately provide
emergency tents and other places as schools for the children.

"The President said the current operation should not hamper
the education process and final examinations for the students,"
Coordinating Minister for Social Welfare Jusuf Kalla said after
attending a Cabinet meeting.

The government said it would open emergency schools within the
next two-weeks around mosques, which are considered safe havens
in the province.