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)