Police hunting for five over ex-rebel killing

Police hunting for five over ex-rebel killing

Police were hunting Thursday for five gunmen accused of killing a
former separatist rebel in tsunami-scarred Aceh province, in the
first violence there since government and separatists signed a
peace deal on Aug. 15.

The killing has been reported to international monitors
overseeing the truce, which ended a three-decade insurgency that
had claimed the lives of 15,000 people, said Aceh police
spokesman Col. Joko Turohman.

Officers said they suspected the killers were rebels who had a
grudge against the victim, who gave himself up to police in
January, he said. Under earlier laws, rebels who surrendered were
not imprisoned.

The killing took place on Sunday in front of several witnesses
in the west of the province, said Turohman.

The Dec. 26 tsunami killed more than 130,000 people in Aceh
province and destroyed much of its infrastructure.

But the disaster propelled the government and separatists back
to the negotiating table after several earlier deals collapsed.

Though analysts say hardline elements on both sides of the
conflict may try to scupper the latest deal, it is considered the
best chance Acehnese have had in years to bring a permanent end
to the fighting. -- AP