Military says more Aceh rebels shot dead

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): The provincial military claimed on Monday soldiers had shot dead three separatist rebels in this strife-torn province.

The identities of the rebels, however, remains unknown.

An intelligence officer of the North Aceh Military, Capt. Budijanto, said the rebels were shot in a gunfight in the regency's village of Bate Pila on Sunday.

But witnesses denied there was any exchange of fire or that anybody was killed. "It is true that the military troops opened fire but the three men were not shot dead," said a local resident who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Budijanto said the rebels had been ordered to surrender when they entered a mosque, but they fired at the soldiers, prompting the troops to fire back.

Violence related to operations to crush Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatist rebels in the province has left more than 250 people dead so far this year.

Protests have been on the rise against the security authorities for killing innocent people during the crackdown on rebels.

On Monday, students grouped under the Student Solidarity for Aceh People (SMUR) rallied in front of the provincial police headquarters here. They demanded an end to the violence and for the military to take responsibility for arson attacks which usually followed raids on alleged GAM bases.

About 500 meters away, 10 young women staged a silent protest at the Simpang Lima roundabout, waving banners which read "No Joint Military-Civilian Tribunal, KPP HAM Yes", referring to the Commission of Inquiry into Human Rights Violations in Aceh.

Both groups dispersed peacefully later in a day.

Separately in Temanggung, Central Java, the local security authorities said on Monday they had arrested a suspected GAM rebel, identified as Nasai M. Akbar, at his wife's grandmother's house in Karanggendong village of Ngadirejo district.

The local military chief, Lt. Col. Sudjarwo, said Nasai was captured in a joint military-police raid on Saturday after being informed by West Aceh officials.

"During questioning, Nasai admitted he joined GAM in December last year and was assigned to collect funds for the group's struggle," Sudjarwo said. (50/edt/har)