GAM warns military against sweeping operations

GAM warns military against sweeping operations

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Leaders of the separatist Free Aceh
Movement (GAM) forces vowed on Friday to continue attacks if
security forces persisted in conducting sweeping operations
against them.

The threat was issued despite a month-long moratorium on
violence agreed by Indonesian and GAM negotiators earlier this
week.

Between Wednesday and Friday, no less than 18 incidents were
recorded across the province, with officials claiming that "most
of the clashes were initiated by rebels."

GAM spokesman in North Aceh, Abu Sofyan Daud, issued a strong
warning saying that rebel attacks would persist "if the security
authorities continue to conduct sweeping operations searching for
guns in the villages."

"The weaponry belongs to us (GAM), not the civilians. If the
security forces try to take the weapons, they will have to fight
us. Come to our base and get them," Abu Sofyan said.

Police here have said that they would launch a widespread
sweeping operation starting Monday.

On Friday the spokesman for the Cinta Meunasah Operation,
Chief Comr. Kusbini Imbar, said sporadic gunfights took place in
five different places near Lhokseumawe, capital of North Aceh,
but no casualties were reported.

This was a continuation of clashes which seem to have
intensified since Wednesday.

Two teenagers, Ramli, 16 and Muhammad, 15, remain critically
injured after being shot in one of the incidents in Blang Dalam
village, Nisam district in North Aceh.

"My sons are both being treated at Cut Meutia hospital,"
Hasyim Husein, father of the victims, said on Friday.

"They were using the toilet, about 100 meters from the house,
when suddenly they heard gunfire and fled," he said.

Ramli was shot in the head and Muhammad in the chest.

A staffer at Cut Meutia Hospital revealed that eight Punteut
villagers from Blang Mangat -- some eight kilometers east of
Lhokseumawe -- were also being treated for injuries as a result
of the continuing violence.

North Aceh Police Chief Adj. Chief Comr. Wanto Sumardi, urged
people not to be afraid of the gun sweeping operations.

"Police will only target specific houses. So there is nothing
to worry about," he said during a community service work by
security forces with locals in Lhokseumawe.

Separately, in a coincidental event, security forces and
rebels on Friday both cleared opposite ends of a 100-kilometer
road between Simpang Ulin and Peureulak which previously been
blocked by debris and logs as a result of a clash between them
the previous day.

The clogged road had severely disrupted transportation in the
area.

Meanwhile in Jakarta, Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab
maintained that the Indonesian Military (TNI) would not impose a
coercive policy in Aceh, which conflicts with government
statements on Aceh.

"Even in Geneva, representatives of TNI were part of the
Indonesian negotiating team. People should not have the
impression that the TNI and government are on a collision course
over Aceh," he remarked. (50/edt/dja)