Government inconsistent in dealing with Aceh issue: GAM
Ibnu Mat Noor, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh
The Free Aceh Movement (GAM) is accusing the Indonesian government of being inconsistent in dealing with the Aceh conflict.
"On one hand they (government) say that the Aceh problems must be resolved through negotiation, however, they still use violence," Abu Arafah, one of GAM commanders, said on Thursday.
Arafah cited the recent complaint by Paya Bakong residents in the Matangkuli district near the ExxonMobil gas field in North Aceh.
The people marched to the North Aceh legislature on Tuesday to complain about military operations being conducted by the Indonesian military (TNI) and police. The marchers claim they are living in fear of ongoing military raids in the area.
Arafah also criticized Defense Minister Matori Abdul Djalil's recent statements on the continuation of the execution of Presidential Instruction (Inp[res) No. 4/2001 which deals with the struggle in Aceh.
The statements have reportedly provoked heightened tension in the restive province.
Matori said in Jakarta on Tuesday that the implementation of the Inpres would be extended for the next four months, while Acehnese had earlier urged that the Inpres signed by then- president Abdurrahman Wahid be voided.
President Megawati Soekarnoputri in July approved the House of Representatives' (DPR) proposal on the provision of regional autonomy for Aceh.
Therefore, the extension of the Inpres is viewed by many to be a setback in the endeavors to settle problems in Aceh.
Arafah blasted Matori's statements, saying that Matori's comments have provoked GAM's anger.
"(Indonesian) soldiers and policemen still arrest people randomly, kill them and dump the dead bodies everywhere. Is that law enforcement?" asked Arafah.
Meanwhile, at least 18 people had been killed in conflicts in separate areas from Tuesday to Thursday.
Muslim, an Indonesian Red Cross worker in Banda Aceh said he had just transported three dead bodies, all with gunshot wounds, to the Zainoel Abidin Hospital. The unidentified dead bodies were found in the outskirts of the capital Banda Aceh.
On Tuesday and Wednesday eight civilians, six GAM members, and one TNI soldier were killed. TNI, police, GAM and humanitarian workers all confirmed the fatalities.
After the Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) conducted raids in the village of Meesale, about 30 kilometers east of Banda Aceh, on Wednesday, PMI workers found three dead men with gunshot wounds.
The spokesman for the Operation for Security Restoration in Aceh, Comr. Miyanto said that the three were GAM members shot dead during a gun battle with Brimob members.
"A man named Bahtiar, 22, was arrested by the police after the clash. A Scorpion gun (brand of an automatic rifle) was also seized from GAM at that time."
In the district of Idi, East Aceh, about 400 kilometers east of Banda Aceh, TNI soldiers invaded on Wednesday a remote village believed to be a GAM hideout. Three Acehnese men were found dead after the raid.
According to Miyanto the three dead bodies were all GAM members. "One TNI soldier was shot during the raid, while two rifles with ammunition were seized from GAM."
In North Aceh, GAM spokesman Sofyan Daud said two civilians were killed during police raids in the villages around the ExxonMobil field on Wednesday.
In the regency of Bireuen, around 200 kilometers east of Banda Aceh, a village head was shot dead by unidentified people. Locals said that the victim had been dragged out of his home before being executed in front of the shocked villagers in the district of Gandapura on early Wednesday.
Additionally, in Blang Naleung Mameh village, about 250 kilometers east of Banda Aceh two dead bodies were found on Tuesday according to humanitarian workers.
In South Aceh, a member of TNI, Private Bagus was shot dead during a clash on Tuesday with GAM members in Ujong Pasir village.
Also on Tuesday, three men identified as Abdullah Syam, 55, and Razali, 37, Idris Yusuf, 37, were found dead with gunshot wounds in Bireun regency.