Humanitarian pause brought more casualties, says Graito
Humanitarian pause brought more casualties, says Graito
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Military (TNI) spokesman Rear
Marshall Graito Usodo said on Thursday that the humanitarian
pause in restive Aceh province had failed to create a positive
environment to settle the region's problems and had led to more
casualties.
"Since the implementation of the first phase of the
humanitarian pause on June 2, 2000, which ended on Sept. 2, until
Wednesday, 40 civilians have died, 122 have been injured, nine
have been declared missing and eight others abducted.
"Meanwhile, 21 security officers have died, 88 have been
injured, two have been abducted and one is still missing," Graito
said at a media conference at the Ministry of Defense on Jl.
Medan Merdeka Barat in Central Jakarta.
He accused the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) of using the first
phase of the truce for consolidation and training.
"Their move has caused losses to the military and the police.
But we have taken necessary measures to settle the losses," he
said without elaborating.
Meanwhile, Banda Aceh Police chief Supt. Sayed Hoesainy said
tension in the capital had escalated as the police had received a
tip-off about a separatist rebel plan to plant bombs in the city,
targeting security officers' vehicles.
"But, we have deployed a bomb squad to investigate and to
clear the streets of bombs," he said.
He was not able to say how many bombs had been planted.
Sayed said a homemade bomb exploded on Thursday on the main
Banda Aceh-Medan highway in Lampakuk area, Aceh Besar, when two
police trucks were passing by. One officer was reportedly injured
when one of the trucks careered into a ravine.
He said that another homemade bomb exploded on Thursday in
Saree village, Seulimuem district, Aceh Besar.
Sayed also said that over the past few days a group of armed
rebels had burned down some 20 houses in the Saree area, some 70
kilometers from the provincial capital Banda Aceh.
As a result, hundreds of farmers have been made homeless and
forced to flee to mosques and community posts, he said.
"We regret the arson attacks as it is the residents that have
suffered the most," Sayed said.
In a related development, North Aceh Police chief Supt. Abadan
Bangko said six officers were injured when a bomb rocked a joint
police-military post in Lhokseumawe on Thursday.
North Aceh rebel commander Abu Sofyan Daud said the Free Aceh
Movement was responsible for the attack.
Abadan also said armed rebels attacked three military trucks
carrying supplies in Blang Mangat district, in North Aceh
regency, leaving one soldier dead and five others injured.
"Around 20 rebels attacked the convoy with grenade launchers
and rifles," he said.
Abadan said that several hours after the incident, another
group of rebels attacked a military district command in
Meurahmulia, North Aceh. No casualties were reported.
On Wednesday afternoon, a branch of the state-owned Bank
Rakyat Indonesia in Bireuen, North Aceh regency, was held up by
two robbers armed with weapons and grenades.
"They fled the scene with Rp 53 million (US$6,162) in cash,"
Abadan said.
He added that on Wednesday a vehicle belonging to the same
bank was hit when it was passing through Senobok Nalan village in
Jeunieb subdistrict, Bireuen. Three bank employees were injured.
"The armed rebels are responsible for this bloody incident,"
he said, adding that shortly after the attack a group of police
officers and soldiers were deployed to comb the area to track
down the attackers. (50/lup)