Military says GAM leader Abdullah Syafi'ie 'dying'

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)