Police investigate recent Aceh violence

JAKARTA (JP): The National Police said on Wednesday they were investigating the latest violence in the Aceh province, where five civilians, including two children, died.

Antara quoted National Police chief Gen. Roesmanhadi as saying there were two versions of last week's incident in Peureulak, East Aceh.

"What really happened is still under investigation," he said.

One version said troops fired shots when they were surprised by an exploding tire, while according to another version, the troops were attacked by armed gunmen.

Roesmanhadi added the police were planning to increase their presence in Aceh.

In Padang, West Sumatra, chairman of the Acehnese Family Association (IKA), Darmi Jusuf Ces, told the agency on Tuesday that the government should immediately form a military command in Aceh to achieve peace there.

The suggestion was earlier aired by local legislators in Aceh but activists and students raised opposition against the idea. The military said it was considering the proposal.

In Jakarta, the independent Committee for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) reiterated on Tuesday that the military presence should end in the province as it only served to increase incidences of violence.

Kontras coordinator Munir was among activists addressing a dialog on violence in Aceh on Wednesday, held by the Jakarta- based Women's Solidarity. The group has worked with activists in Aceh to show videos and slides to expose the public to the recent violence in Aceh, where the poll has yet to be conducted in volatile regencies.

Independent poll watchers have said the General Elections Commission should assess the condition carefully as so far the situation is far from being conducive to hold a poll.

At Wednesday's dialog, Women's Solidarity urged public solidarity for all victims of violence in Aceh, which have added to the scores of others following a 10-year military operation which ended last year.

"The government's decision to end military operations in Aceh has not reduced the suffering of people, particularly women," the organization's statement said.

The Ministry of Defense and Security also issued on Monday a statement on the "proof of cruelty of the Free Aceh Movement".

It cited, among others, the finding of a corpse identified as Moch. Yusuf, 33, a farmer in Idi Rayeuk district in East Aceh. Another corpse was identified as a low-ranking police corporal in Tanah Luas district, North Aceh. Both corpses were said to have sustained numerous injuries.

The Association of Islamic Students (HMI) said in a statement that all cases must not be neglected under the pretext of the concentration on elections.

"We urge the military against making civilians targets of their anger," HMI's statement said.

Kontras, HMI and Women's Solidarity all demanded the withdrawal of troops from the province.(anr)