Five killed in latest clash in troubled Aceh

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)