Police pledge to restore order in troubled Aceh

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Aceh Police chief Brig. Gen. Bachrumsyah Kasman launched on Tuesday the third phase of a six month police operation, dubbed Sadar Rencong III, to help restore order in the restive province.

The move comes despite a reported cease-fire offer by separatist rebels from Free Aceh Movement (GAM).

"Our prime objective is to restore law and order in Aceh. We will impose repressive action in this operation towards any party instigating unrest," Bachrumyah told journalists at his office Tuesday noon.

"The (operation) target is to track down 800 armed civilians and rebels. Their whereabouts has been determined and we know their identities," Bachrumsyah said.

According to him, police have been assembling data for some time on the identities of these rebels and armed civilians whom he described as gangs of criminals and hoodlums.

He pledged that police and military will continue to stage security sweeps and raids on rebel bases. He said police also remained confident of apprehending GAM military commander Tengku Abdulah Syafi'ie.

Bachrumsyah assured residents in the province that police would be extremely discriminate in tracking down the people on the wanted list, and those who have no connection should not be fearful of the operation.

"We are here to bring back peace, not to frighten people," he said.

According to Bachrumsyah the second phase of the Sadar Rencong operation which lasted from May 1, 1999 to Jan. 31, 2000, resulted in the deaths of 111 rebels and armed civilians. He added that 185 people had also been arrested.

Police and military forces lost 107 men with 26 missing. Out of the dead, 57 were policemen.

Meanwhile, violence continues to rock the province.

Security forces raided Ulee Gle village in Tanah Jambo Aye district, North Aceh on Monday afternoon.

The one fatality was identified as Abdul Hamid, age 40. Three locals, believed by police to be members of GAM, were also arrested during the operation

Meanwhile in South Aceh, Abidin A.S, 53, the Kuta Buloh II subdistrict chief in Meukik district was shot dead in his house Monday night by an unidentified gang.

There were no details of the incident. (50/edt)