Five killed in latest clash in troubled Aceh
JAKARTA (JP): Five civilians, including two boys, were found dead with shot wounds after soldiers were involved in a battle with rebels in Peurelak, East Aceh, a military chief said on Sunday.
The joint-military Crack Riot Troop (PPRM) task force commander Col. Ridwan Karim said the soldiers found the victims, identified as M. Nur, 34, Rizal Pitriah, 23, M. Tarizal, 35, Jumadil, 6 and Musadi, 6, two hours after the clash, which took place at 2:45 p.m. on Saturday.
"The three dead men were believed to be members of the rebels," Ridwan told The Jakarta Post by phone from Aceh.
He said the incident happened when a convoy of two trucks carrying 34 PPRM soldiers along a road in Peurelak was attacked by the rebels.
A tire of one of the trucks was shot by the rebels, who suddenly left drinking stalls along the road, he said.
The soldiers quickly got off the trucks and started to shoot the rebels back, he said.
The rebels quickly dispersed in the direction of the seashore and a nearby telecommunications tower, he said.
During the search for the rebels, the dead victims were found, he said. The bodies were taken to nearby Langsa Hospital for postmortem examinations, he said.
Meanwhile, more than 3,000 residents of three villages -- Central Hagu, North West Hagu and Ule Jalan -- in Banda Sakti district here continued to take refugee on Sunday, fearing intimidation and a newly built military camp in the area.
The residents, who are mostly fishermen, have sheltered in Lhokseumawe's Baiturahman Grand Mosque since Friday after being intimidated by unidentified people, who told them that there will be a war.
Besides the intimidation, the residents said they were afraid of the newly built Air Force's Traffic Unit camp located in North West Hagu.
The camp's chief First Lt. Hari R. said on Thursday establishment of the camp was ordered by Liliawangsa Military Commander Col. Johnny Wahab.
The intimidation was believed to have commenced from the establishment of the military camp.
A local resident named Syarifah told the Post a group of unidentified youths visited the residents' houses, telling them to go away. The youths apparently did not like the existence of the camp.
"You have to leave the houses. Don't blame us if your family members will be shot dead," Syarifah quoted the youths as saying.
The mother of four children, along with other residents, then took refugee at the mosque.
Ridwan called on the residents to return to their homes, saying the rumor of a war was groundless.
"Do not believe the rumor. Just report to us if you hear such rumors," Ridwan told thousands of refugees at the mosque.
He said PPRM soldiers had arrested three provocateurs, identified only as IS, 35, IL, 34 and SA, 35, on Friday, for their alleged involvement in intimidating the local people.
The three suspects, who were driving a jeep when they were arrested, are residents of Central Hagu and South Hagu villages, he said.
Meanwhile, a refugee coordinator predicted that more residents would leave their houses if the military did not move the camp away.
The coordinator, who asked for anonymity, said the residents of Ujung Blang, Utien Bayi and South Hagu, threatened to continue seeking refugee if the camp was not withdrawn.(46/jun)