More killed in continued Aceh violence
More killed in continued Aceh violence
BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Bloody violence coming amid Acehnese
demands for a referendum continue to undercut the humanitarian
pause, with seven more people, including three policemen, being
killed in several locations in the restive province on Thursday,
police said on Friday.
West Aceh Police chief Supt. Her Aris Sumarman said three
members of the police's Mobile Brigade were killed in an ambush
by a group of armed attackers in the village of Alue Bateung
Brok, Darul Makmur district.
"A woman also was seriously injured by a stray bullet fired
during the ambush," Sumarman said.
Another deadly incident took place in South Aceh, claiming one
life. According to South Aceh Police chief Supt. Mohd. Ali
Husein, the violence occurred when a group of Free Aceh Movement
(GAM) rebels intercepted a police patrol in Kampung Baru village,
Kluet Utara district. "The victim was a civilian. Three policemen
were injured in the attack."
Meanwhile, unidentified men reportedly opened fire on a house
in Pidie, killing three women inside. Supt. Heru Budi Ersanto
confirmed the shooting, but said police were in the dark about
the identity of the assailants.
The three police chiefs did not provide the identities of the
victims, including the three police officers.
In a related development, two bodies believed to be of
civilians were discovered in two separate locations on Thursday
and Friday.
The first body was found in a ravine on the side of the road
in Lhok Seudu, Aceh Besar, on Thursday. The head of the Banda
Aceh branch of the Legal Aid Institute (LBH), Rufriadi,
identified the victim as Zulkifli, who he claimed was kidnapped
by Mobile Brigade members in Limpok village in September.
Rufriadi said National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro
should be held responsible for the death of Zulkifli, adding that
his office had sent a letter to President Abdurrahman Wahid about
the incident.
Copies of the letter also were sent to, among others, Surojo,
Aceh Police chief Brig. Gen. Chaerul R. Rasyidi and Aceh Besar
Police chief Sr. Supt. Sayed Hoesainy, Rufriadi said.
Another body, whose head had been severed, was found in the
village of Peureupok in North Aceh on Friday. "The victim was not
wearing any clothes. We are still looking into the matter," North
Aceh Police chief Supt. Abadan Bangko said.
In another case, Sgt. Amir Husen, who was injured in a bomb
blast at his residence in Padang Tiji, Pidie, last week, died on
Wednesday at Bhayangkara Police Hospital in Medan, North Sumatra.
Jakarta and the GAM extended in September a three-month truce
to another three months, but it has so far failed to stop the
violence.
The GAM has been fighting for independence from Indonesia for
the past 20 years in the natural resource rich province.
(50/51/lup/sur)