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.