Four rebels killed in Aceh

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Four rebels were killed in the latest joint military and police operation to crush the strongholds of the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and arrest its leader Ahmad Kandang, police claimed on Wednesday.

While raids were taking place in North Aceh and South Aceh on Tuesday, First Sgt. Ramli Yahya of the police intelligence unit was stabbed to death on his way home in Berandang village, also in North Aceh.

North Aceh Police chief Lt. Col. Syafei Aksal said on Wednesday the joint operation in the regency was launched in Blok Baru of Riseh Tunong village, 60 kilometers southeast of Lhokseumawe, the capital of North Aceh, on Tuesday.

Some 70 military and police personnel combed the area from 7 a.m. until about 6 p.m.

"We will continue the operation until they all surrender," Syafei said.

He said rebel leader Ahmad and 50 of his troops remained at large. Apart from killing the four alleged rebels, security troops seized a rifle, dozens of bullets and artillery mortars and some important documents.

The existence of Ahmad remains unknown, and some accuse the military of creating the figure, while others believe the man is a symbol of the rebel movement in Aceh.

Earlier on Monday, security forces ambushed the GAM base in Oboh Kota Beringin village in South Aceh, some 600 kilometers south of Aceh's capital of Banda Aceh.

There was no report of casualties from either side during the exchange of fire in the sundown raid.

The security personnel confiscated a FN pistol and 400 bullets, 50 revolver bullets, three motorcycles and some important documents, Aceh Police spokesman Lt. Col. Sayed Husaini said.

In a related development, GAM denied on Wednesday responsibility for the killing of six Marine personnel near Ujoeng Blang village of Bireun regency on Monday night.

"We don't have any problem with the Marines. The shots were probably fired by two other forces, the Police Mobile Brigade and the Army, as the Marines often refuse to take repressive action in Aceh," Abu Ham, GAM spokesman of Batee Iliek in Bireun, said. (50/edt)