Medan launches sweep on Acehnese

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Alarmed by the possibility of infiltration by members of the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM), the North Sumatra provincial authorities have launched a sweep of Acehnese migrants living in the capital Medan, a report said on Saturday.

An integrated security team, consisting of police officers, military soldiers, civilian guards and local officials in the seaport town of Belawan, began the sweep on Friday.

During the team's activities on Friday, 101 Acehnese migrants were questioned in Belawan. Some 92 of them did not possess identity cards, while four were arrested for possessing hashish.

The four drug suspects reportedly had one kilogram of hashish between them.

Those migrants with identity cards were taken to the local police headquarters for registration.

They have also been asked to apply for identity cards with the proper authorities as soon as possible.

The number of Acehnese migrants in Medan has increased of late. Many of the migrants live in upscale housing complexes and are affluent enough to send their children to exclusive schools. -- Antara