Killing spree continues in troubled Aceh province

JAKARTA (JP): Tensions in Aceh remain as three more civilians were shot during military and police operations against the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in East Aceh and Aceh Besar on Monday, a volunteer said on Tuesday.

Muhammad Yusuf Puteh, chairman of the Aceh Human Rights Care Forum said that Zulkifli bin Hasan (20) and Ismail bin Ibrahim (30) were shot dead by dozens of military and police troops who raided the village of Buket Kuta Alam Kumba, in Ranto Selamat district, East Aceh, at 11 a.m. local time on Monday.

The head of Buket Kuta Alam Kuma village, Muhammad Hasan, told the Forum in East Aceh that three trucks loaded with Police Mobile Brigade and military personnel were combing the village at 10 a.m. Several villagers, who thought that the troops would apprehend them, tried to escape. "Suddenly the officers shot the people running away."

In Aceh Besar, a 37-year-old resident named Affan bin Daud was shot by a plain-clothed anti-bomb squad officer, who was in a private vehicle in the Beurangong village, Kuta Baro district on Monday evening.

"The victim was running in his effort to avoid the plain- clothed police officers, when he was shot," said Teungku Abang, a local.

Like previous shootings, police said that the three were all GAM members, while GAM accused the military and police of violating the truce by continuing to kill civilians.

Col. Kusbini Imbar, Aceh Police spokesman, said in Banda Aceh that the three were GAM rebels who were shot for trying to intercept the military and police while conducting a routine operation.

GAM spokesman Amri bin Abdul Wahab stated that he deeply regretted the incident, saying that the Indonesian troop commanders had failed to restrain their men from shooting civilians.

Amri was one of the GAM representatives at the signing of the pact with Indonesia brokered by the Henry Dunant center in Banda Aceh on Saturday.

"We had reported to their chief Col. Suyitno about the three trucks of troops combing the Buket Kuta Alam Kumba village. I had asked Col. Suyitno to withdraw their men, but still the troops shot the people. If the Indonesian military and police keep conducting such operations, we will defend our people whom they continue killing," said Amri.

GAM Commander Tengku Abdullah Syafiie had earlier ordered his troops to comply with the new pact signed on Saturday with the Indonesian government. "Both GAM and the Indonesian security forces must restrain themselves and respect the pact."

Another incident was also reported from Kuala Idi village in East Timur when two civilians were tortured by Indonesian troops. "One of them had to be hospitalized for an injured eye," Yusuf Puteh said.

In North Aceh, a gun fight took place between Indonesian troops and GAM rebels in Matang Rawa village. North Aceh Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Wanto Sumardi said that the incident took place after GAM members intercepted the entourage of North Aceh Military Command chief Lt. Col. Suyatno. (50/sur)