Military offensive kills five separatists in Aceh
Ibnu Mat Noor, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh
The Indonesian military (TNI) launched a two-day offensive against the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), earlier this week, resulting in the deaths of four suspected rebels, while prompting hundreds of local residents to flee for their lives.
The attack, which included police personnel, took place in Peuntenteut Village, near Lhokseumawe, on Tuesday and Wednesday after two soldiers were killed, TNI officials said.
The two soldiers who were identified as 2nd Lt. Fakhrurrazi and Private Deny were killed in retaliation of the military's brutality against civilians in several villages in the regency.
Maj. Zaenal Mutaqin, a spokesman for the recently revived Iskandar Muda Military Command, said that the four men -- thought members of the secessionist group -- were killed in a shootout as dozens of Army Strategic Reserve Command soldiers stormed their stronghold in Tanjong Neunyot, North Aceh.
The four were identified as Iskandar Hamzah, 22; Sofyan Nur, 28; Wahidin A. Rachman, 21, and Wahab, 23; their bodies were handed over to locals for burial, according to military officials.
The separatists accused the soldiers of taking killing innocent civilians as a means of avenging their fallen comrades.
GAM Deputy Commander Cut Manyak said that he could neither confirm nor deny rebel claims that the dead were innocent civilians.
He did, however, acknowledge that security personnel have in the past frequently fired on civilians, and burned down their houses under suspicion of being GAM members.
GAM spokesman Tengku Jamaika said that GAM had shot 27 security officers in a series of ambushes and firefights this week.
Frustrated by the attacks, Jamaika said that the TNI has resorted to random violence, placing civilians and their property in their sights.
Indonesia "will never succeed as a nation unless (the TNI) complies with all its previous agreements," he said. "Aceh will turn toward peace once the Indonesian military pulls out."
He added that the local military has barred locals from gardening until the offensive is completed. Hundreds of residents have already taken refuge since the operation began.
Many refugees desperately searched for their families or stayed in public buildings; others sought protection from local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the provincial capital of Banda Aceh.
Some 47 families from Pameue in Central Aceh regency have taken refuge in Lamjeue Geumpang in Pidie for several days.
Around 500 other villagers from the regency have been stranded in Krueng Tuan, Nisam Subdistrict, after hiding in forest areas.
Teuku Rizal Ramli, coordinator of the Jeumpa Mirah NGO in Banda Aceh, said that his office has accommodated 132 refugees from Central, North and East Aceh.
"Some of the refugees have occupied a vacant construction at the Ar-Raniry Islamic Teaching Institute," he said.
In other developments, Muryati, chairwoman of the Humanity Team for Acehnese Women, called on the government to resume talks with GAM to ensure a cease-fire with GAM to minimize civilian casualties.
"Acehnese women and children have suffered the most during this conflict because women, having lost their husbands, have been frequently forced to leave their villages with their children," she said.
More and more Acehnese people, she added, especially women and children, will perish if the Aceh conflict is not solved peacefully -- and quickly.