Fresh batch of troops arrive in Aceh amid growing tension
Fresh batch of troops arrive in Aceh amid growing tension
The Jakarta Post, Lhokseumawe, Aceh
The Indonesian Military (TNI) undertook a troop rotation in Aceh
on Tuesday, with a fresh batch of soldiers landing at the Krueng
Geukeuh Seaport in Lhokseumawe.
Iskandar Muda Military Commander Maj. Gen. Djali Yusuf warned
the new troops of the worsening security situation in the
conflict-ridden province of Aceh.
The 1,427 TNI personnel, including intelligence officers, will
soon be taking up their new posts in several areas of Aceh,
including the strife-torn North Aceh and East Aceh regencies, the
military spokesman in Aceh, Maj. Zaenal Muttaqin, said.
The troops are replacing 1,425 soldiers who have completed
one-year tours in the province. These departing soldiers are
scheduled to leave Aceh this Friday, aboard the KRI Teluk Manado
naval ship.
Following a ceremony to welcome the new soldiers, Djali told
journalists the province of Aceh was like a "hidden shadow of
(rebel) activities that is terrifying its own people".
He added that he would continue to use the might of his
soldiers to paralyze the activities of armed separatist rebels
from the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), but that this would not be
possible without the help of the Acehnese people.
"Does the public want to continue living as objects of
extortion to be used by GAM? I have repeatedly asked the people
of East Aceh, West Aceh and other parts of Aceh to become one,
and to fight against the acts of terror that have them so
frightened," Djali said.
He added that he was not worried about the imposition of a
state of civil emergency, adding his men were ready to fight
provocateurs and rebels in any security condition.
Meanwhile, gunfire has continued across the rebellious
province of Aceh, with at least eight deaths recorded over the
last three days, the local police, military and aid workers said.
Muttaqin said on Tuesday that soldiers shot dead three rebels
and seized two AK-47 firearms and a home-made bomb in two
separate clashes on Monday in North Aceh regency.
Two of the victims, Zakaria Harun, 26, and Dahlan, 29, who
were identified as Free Aceh Movement (GAM) members, were killed
in an exchange of gunfire at Meunasah Dayah village in Kuta
Makmur subdistrict.
A second clash took place in Gampong Gunting village in the
subdistrict of Jambo Aye, in which TNI troops shot dead another
alleged GAM member, Syaiful Hasyim, 25.
Meanwhile, five bodies with gunshot wounds were found on
Sunday and Monday in separate locations, police and Indonesian
Red Cross (PMI) volunteers said.
Red Cross worker Muslim Tanjung told The Jakarta Post that the
body of Mursal, an 18-year-old male, was found on Monday behind
the Syiah Kuala University's School of Engineering building in
Banda Aceh, the provincial capital.
Earlier on Sunday, the Red Cross discovered another victim of
a shooting on the roadside of the Seunapet area, Aceh Besar
regency, Muslim added.