Military says more Aceh rebels shot dead
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)