More deaths as Acehnese arrive for huge rally
BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): At least 11 people have been killed as hundreds of thousands of people from five regencies across strife-torn Aceh defied security cordons to arrive at the capital for a planned assembly this weekend.
Security officials were quick on Thursday to blame the violence on the enthusiastic crowd.
"The deaths resulted when the crowds forced their way to the capital and gunmen among the masses fired at troops when we tried to block them," Sr. Supt. Kusbini Imbar, spokesman for the Cinta Meunasah police operation said on Thursday.
Local journalists, however, had a different account. They said joint police and military forces had shot nine people to death on Wednesday in various parts of the province, namely East Aceh, North Aceh, Pidie, South Aceh and West Aceh.
Two more people, identified as Zulfahzi, 20, and Safruddan, 35, both Padang Tiji villagers, were found dead on Thursday with gunshot wounds on a road linking Banda Aceh and Medan, three kilometers east of Sigli, capital of Pidie.
"We're still investigating the case," Pidie Police chief Supt. Heru Budi Ersanto said.
Banda Aceh will host a colossal rally called the Aceh Mass Gathering for Peace (Sira-Rakan) on Saturday to commemorate the first anniversary of a public call for referendum in the natural resource-rich province. A mass prayer will precede the gathering at the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque.
Tengku Maad Muda, spokesman for the armed wing of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatist rebels, condemned the killings and denied any link to the massive influx of people to Banda Aceh.
"We are not involved in this (event) and none of our members joined the parade brandishing guns. Those people are expressing their wish. Why should we stop them?" he said.
Police denied accusations that security troops had opened fire on unarmed villagers.
"We opened fire in self-defense. Besides, who should be responsible if the mass mobilization to Banda Aceh turned into chaos?" officer Kusbini said.
Shops, business centers and schools were crippled in several towns, such as Sigli, one of GAM's strongholds.
Witnesses said thousands of people from Ule Glee in North Aceh, and the Pidie districts of Meurudu, Bereunen and Grung- Grung were camping in nearby villages after security forces denied them access to Banda Aceh.
"At least 500 vehicles along the Pidie-Banda Aceh route have been damaged by security troops in an attempt to block the people," a local journalist said.
In Banda Aceh, at least 10,000 people have gathered in the city, mostly congregating at Syiah Kuala University compound.
Rally chief organizer and coordinator of the Information Center for Aceh Referendum (SIRA) Muhammad Nazar has called on the people who had fail to reach Banda Aceh to stay and say their prayers from where they are.
In Jakarta, Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said talks with GAM would resume and will be held in Geneva on Nov. 16 and 17.
The government, which has ruled out independence for Aceh, will put on the table at the Geneva meeting "a concrete proposal" which will offer special autonomy and accelerated development for Aceh, Susilo said. (51/edt)