Military warns of GAM members' presence in Jakarta

Military warns of GAM members' presence in Jakarta

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Military (TNI) warned the nation
over the presence of separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) members
and supporters in Jakarta and other cities, calling their
presence a serious threat if not properly addressed immediately.

"The military has detected the presence of GAM rebels in
Jakarta and several cities outside Aceh over the last three
months," TNI Chief of General Affairs Lt. Gen. Djamari Chaniago
told The Jakarta Post at TNI headquarters in Cilangkap, East
Jakarta, on Tuesday.

He, however, suggested that it was the responsibility of the
National Police Headquarters to handle the matter.

"The authority to handle security is in the hands of the
National Police.

"But, the military has strengthened coordination with the
police to monitor their (GAM) separatist activities, especially
in Jakarta," he said.

He added that the military would support the government's
humane and persuasive approach in handling the Aceh problem.

A senior military official, who asked for anonymity, revealed
that hundreds of well-trained and armed rebels have been
launching underground activities in Jakarta to support the
separatist movement in Aceh.

"They are backed up politically by Acehnese people within the
political elite," the official said.

"The results of our monitoring show that the rebels are well
trained and armed. They have modern arms and grenades," he added,
citing that their main target was government and military
infrastructure.

The official, however, declined to comment whether the
separatist rebels were behind the recent bombing at the Jakarta
Stock Exchange (JSX) building.

"Please, ask the police who are investigating the case," he
said.

Two servicemen, both Acehnese, along with 25 other suspects,
have been arrested over their alleged involvement in the bombing
incident, which left at least 11 fatalities and injured dozens
others. The two were identified as Second Sgt. Ibrahim and Chief
Corp. Irwan, of the Army's Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad)
and the Army Special Force (Kopassus), respectively.

The military official said the government would impose a
curfew in Aceh because of the escalating tension in the restive
province despite the extended humanitarian pause.

"The government should not be trapped by GAM's political
maneuvers because the separatist movement has also conducted
underground activities in their fight and there will be more
police officers killed if the curfew is not imposed," he said.

He said the police and its Mobile Brigade (Brimob) would not
be able to restore security and order in the province because
they were inexperienced in dealing with the underground movement.

Chief of Staff of the Jakarta Garrison Brig. Gen. Hasanuddin,
who is in charge of security in the capital, concurred and said
that Acehnese figures should be held responsible for giving
support to the movement.

"Please, ask Hasballah about it," he said, referring to
Hasballah M. Saad, former state minister of human rights affairs.

Maj. Gen. Slamet Kirbiantoro, chief of the Jakarta Military
Command, said that besides coordinating with the city police, the
Jakarta Military was now launching a secret operation to put
pressure on GAM separatist activities in the capital.

"We are trying to cut down their activities here gradually,"
he said, but did not elaborate.

Gunfights

Meanwhile in Banda Aceh, a series of gunfights erupted between
police and rebels from the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) on Tuesday.

North Aceh Precinct Police chief Supt. Abadan Abangko said two
people died -- Sgt. Heriadi, a member of the police bomb disposal
squad and an unidentified man allegedly from GAM. The clash broke
out in Blang Kulam village, Kuta Makmur district, some 30
kilometers northwest of Lhokseumawe.

According to Abadan the clash erupted when a squad of 18
policemen were ambushed by rebels.

However, GAM Commander Abu Sofyan Daud gave a different
version of the story. He said that 11 truckloads of police had
launched a sweeping operation in the morning in the vicinity of
Blang Kulam village.

He claimed that upon learning of the operation, he immediately
contacted the Joint Committee on Security in Banda Aceh to urge
it to stop the police operation, fearing that a big clash would
erupt because the rebel headquarters is located in Blang Kulam
village.

"The warning was ignored and thirty GAM members attacked the
police patrol. The gunfight claimed the life of one police
officer and injured several others," Abu Sofyan said.

Clashes continue in Aceh despite the extension of an accord
between rebels and the government.

Tuesday's clash came amid reports that Aceh Police chief Brig.
Gen. Doddy Sumantyawan would be replaced by Brig. Gen. Chairul R.
Rasyidi who is Deputy Governor for the Police Academy.

Doddy will switch posts with Chairul and take over the academy
in Semarang, Central Java.

Doddy reiterated on Tuesday that police sweeping operations to
apprehend armed civilians would continue.

"Unarmed GAM members will be excluded in our operation but the
police will target all armed people, including GAM," he said.

GAM has pledged to retaliate by attacking police patrols.

Abu Sofyan said Indonesian government negotiators in the
accord should urge security personnel not to violate the
Humanitarian Pause by conducting such sweeping operations against
GAM.

Separately the deputy chief of the Cinta Meunasah special
police operation, Supt. Yatim Suyatmo, told journalists on
Tuesday that armed rebels had burned at least 10 houses in Paya
Tampah village, Bandar Baru district, East Aceh, on Sunday.

The attack was an apparent attempt to terrorize residents as,
according to Yatim, rebels forced residents out of their homes
without giving them the opportunity to take their belongings.

"Once the houses were empty, the rebels poured gasoline inside
and set them ablaze. The rebels stood there until the fire razed
the houses and a local elementary school," Yatim said as quoted
by Antara.

The arson attack forced some 1,270 frightened residents to
flee the village, he claimed.

Since the attack, Mobile Brigade officers have been deployed
to the village to help ensure security.

Separately, North Aceh Police Precinct chief Supt. Abadan
Bangko also blamed armed rebels for a daylight robbery which
netted some Rp 20 million (US$2,300) from the state-owned Bank
Rakyat Indonesia branch office in Peudada district, Bireuen
regency, some 200 kilometers east of Banda Aceh, on Monday.

Abadan said this was the third robbery of a BRI branch office
over the past few months. (50/lup/rms)