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.