Military siege of GAM headquarters claims victims
Military siege of GAM headquarters claims victims
Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh
Four Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) officers were wounded during
the 22nd day of the military siege of the Free Aceh Movement
(GAM) headquarters in Cot Trieng, North Aceh on Thursday.
Security forces said several rebels were also wounded or even
killed.
Comr. Herman Sikumbang, Chief Brig. Slamet Rifai, First. Brig.
Rudi Anwar and Adj. Brig. Lalu were injured by a hand grenade
thrown by rebels in Muara Dua district.
Sr. Comr. Taufik Sugiono, chief spokesman for the security
restoration operation, said the incident occurred when a number
of GAM rebels were trying to reach an area controlled by Brimob.
The victims were rushed to the Lilawangsa Military Hospital in
Lhokseumawe and were recovering, he said.
"The rebels were driven away. Several were wounded and,
possibly, even killed but the victims were taken by their
comrades," Taufik said.
He said security authorities were still offering the rebels
the chance to surrender and assured them they would be safe if
they did so.
The spokesman for GAM in Pasee, Teungku Jamaika, said he and
his men were not involved the in the attack on Brimob personnel.
"We are now targeting soldiers cracking down on houses in
villages near the besieged area because the crackdown has forced
local people to live in fear," he said.
He regretted the military's siege, saying the security forces
had attacked just after GAM had declared a unilateral ceasefire
to respect the fasting month of Ramadhan.
Soldiers said the headquarters could be taken within three
days if the military leadership gave the order to do so.
"The big boss (Indonesian Military Commander Gen. Endriartono
Sutarto) has yet to allow us to use arms. The area will be
bombarded in three days if soldiers are given instructions to
launch a strike," said a soldier who asked for anonymity.
Local military spokesman Lt. Col. Firdaus Komarno confirmed
that at least 36 special forces soldiers had been deployed to an
area just 200 meters from the headquarters.
"So far, no soldiers have been allowed to use their arms to
give the rebels time to lay down their guns," he said.
He said about 1,400 armed personnel, armored carriers and
armored cars were laying siege to the headquarters in swampland,
but GAM said the figure could reach 3,500.
GAM has claimed the number of its personnel numbered 600,
while the military says the number is between 40 and 60.
Sofyan Dawood, chief spokesman for GAM, said the rebels would
never surrender to the military because they were confident they
would win the war.
He said his soldiers were ready to face the military.
He warned the military that it would experience a shameful
defeat if they attacked.