GAM rebels asked to end 'threats' against ExxonMobil
GAM rebels asked to end 'threats' against ExxonMobil
JAKARTA (JP): United States Ambassador to Indonesia Robert S.
Gelbard called on Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatist rebels to
stop acts of terrorism and threats against employees of
ExxonMobil Oil Indonesia (EMOI), located in Lhoksukon, North Aceh
regency, reports said on Friday.
"I have met with GAM representatives and asked them to stop
those kinds of threats," Gelbard was quoted by Antara as saying
on Friday during his visit to Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh.
The United States government deeply regrets the temporary
closure of ExxonMobil's operations, he said.
"ExxonMobil was forced to halt their activities as the company
and its employees have received various threats and attacks, such
as bombings and shootings. Their priority is the safety of their
employees," Gelbard said.
Earlier, reports said that GAM had demanded ExxonMobil pay a
security fee of Rp 5 billion per annum to GAM, rather than paying
the Indonesian Military forces.
But GAM spokesman Abu Sofyan Daud denied allegations that
rebels were intimidating ExxonMobil and instead accused
Indonesian security personnel guarding the company's facilities
of responsibility for the attacks.
There has been protracted violence in the restive area, with
ExxonMobil forced to suspend its massive natural gas operations
for security reasons on March 9, seriously affecting Indonesian
gas exports.
Police deployment
Meanwhile police said a fresh deployment of 1,000 personnel
from the Police's Mobile Brigade (Brimob) arrived in Banda Aceh,
the capital of Aceh province.
They arrived at Krueng Raya Port, transported by two Navy
battleships, KRI Teluk Ambon and KRI Teluk Manado on Thursday,
deputy spokesman of the Police's Cinta Meunasah II operation,
Comr. Sudarsono, told The Jakarta Post by phone on Friday.
"The fresh troops will replace personnel that have served in
Aceh for more than six months. Those battalions will leave Aceh
today (Friday) by the same ships," he said.
According to records, there are about 30,000 military and
police personnel stationed in Aceh.
In another outbreak of violence, at least one person was
killed and seven others injured, including two soldiers, after a
grenade blast on Jl. Tengku Cik Ditunong in Pantonlabu, North
Aceh, on Thursday.
"Two men on a motorbike threw grenades among a group of
patrolling officers. They missed the target and they ended up
exploding among a group of locals," the officer said.
Police also reported separate ambush, arson and bombing
incidents in West Aceh, Central Aceh and North Aceh respectively
between Thursday and Friday. (edt)