Military says GAM leader Abdullah Syafi'ie 'dying'
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Military (TNI) claimed on Monday to have wounded Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatist group leader Tengku Abdullah Syafi'ie in a gunfight in the North Aceh district of Pidie last month.
TNI spokesman Air Rear Marshal Graito Usodo said the military learned of his condition from a captured guerrilla who disclosed that Abdullah had suffered gunshot wounds to the chest and was "dying".
"Local military has cross-checked the information and combed the area to make sure that it is Abdullah Syafi'ie," Graito said.
GAM sources, however, were quick to deny the report. The group's chief strategist Teuku Malida told The Jakarta Post by phone later in the day that the influential rebel leader was fine.
Teuku Maad Muda, a GAM spokesman in Pidie, believed to be the base of the armed rebels, said Abdullah was safe. However, the spokesman refused to elaborate.
Graito said the military also received a report from a male paramedic who stated that a man who physically resembled Abdullah was shot in one foot and received treatment before being rushed to his headquarters by his guerrillas.
"This is an official report. Even if he was shot in the foot and he did not receive proper aid, the wound would worsen and he might get gangrene," graito told a news conference here.
Separatist rebels and a group of security personnel were involved in an exchange of fire in Jiem Jiem jungle on Jan. 16. The rebel group claimed it killed 20 officers who were trying to raid Abdullah's camp. Witnesses put the death toll at 12, while the military denied there were any fatalities on its side.
Local military chief Lt. Col. Iskandar M.S., said that after the clash, the military discovered a blood-stained combat uniform, a command stick and beret believed to be Abdullah's.
A GAM member identified as Sofyan told Iskandar that Abdullah "was shot three times in the chest".
Sofyan, 40, was arrested on Feb. 16 in Kembang Tanjung village in Pidie, about 150 kilometers from the provincial capital of Banda Aceh. He is currently being detained at the district military office pending further questioning.
Malida denied that Abdullah was critically injured in the clash.
"It is not true. He is fine. I just contacted him yesterday (Sunday) at 5 p.m.," Malida told the Post.
He said he suspected the military was "up to something" by disseminating the news.
"It would be normal in times of war for this kind of rumor to be circulated," he said. "But the most important thing is that he was not shot."
Chief of Lilawangsa Military Command overseeing North and East Aceh Col. Syafnil Armen offered on Monday medical treatment and a security guarantee for Abdullah if he surrendered.
"We will cover his medical expenses and will not treat him as our enemy as we are all Muslim brothers. It's common to have a different stance but the wounded must be treated properly," Syafnil said. (50/51/edt/emf/das)