Police question 13 over JSC attack

Police question 13 over JSC attack

Nani Farida and Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh/Jakarta

At least 13 people have been questioned about Sunday's attack on
the office of the Joint Security Committee (JSC) in Langsa, East
Aceh, authorities said.

East Aceh Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Gaguk Sumartono told The
Jakarta Post on Monday that four of those questioned had admitted
their involvement in the attack.

"We were questioning them as witnesses. Our investigation has
shown that the mob was upset about the abductions being committed
by GAM," said Gaguk, referring to the separatist Free Aceh
Movement.

None of those questioned were detained, including the four who
admitted they took part in the incident.

A mob of 1,500 ransacked and burned the JSC office in Langsa
on Sunday, the second time in less than a month that offices of
the security committee had been attacked. In March, a mob
attacked the JSC office in Takengon, Central Aceh, for what they
said was the committee's failure to maintain impartiality.

Langsa returned to normal on Monday, with JSC monitors, who
had sought refuge in the East Aceh Police station, returning to
their hotel in Langsa.

Gaguk said the police might question more witnesses about the
incident, which reportedly involved some 20 to 30 community
leaders.

"The incident occurred very fast. Students from the Indonesian
Student Alliance were holding a protest almost at the same time
in a different part of Langsa. We thought the mob was part of the
student protest," said Gaguk by way of explaining the absence of
police at the site of the attack.

However, Marzuki, a 26-year-old resident of Langsa who
witnessed the incident, told the Post on Monday that the protest
was suspicious because the participants were not Acehnese.

"They appeared calm and just stood there. Only one or two were
violent. It was a bit strange because the JSC office was
burning," said Marzuki, adding that security officials kept a
lower profile than at the previous demonstration.

Those taking part in the Sunday protest arrived in dozens of
trucks, causing some to speculate that the rally was organized by
individuals hoping to undermine the peace agreement in the
province.

Marzuki said he had learned of the rally days before it took
place. He also said that farmers from nearby Biereun Bayeun, East
Langsa and West Langsa had been mobilized to take part in the
rally.

In Jakarta, National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said he
regretted the incident.

"We did not expect the incident to happen. We regret the
attack but understand that it took place due to the dishonesty of
the JSC members from GAM," Da'i said.

The police chief particularly faulted the JSC for its failure
to keep the government informed about the demilitarization
process in the province, especially the disarmament of GAM, which
has been fighting for independence since the 1970s.

"We have no idea about the developments in the disarmament of
GAM, except that GAM is getting stronger during the
demilitarization process. GAM insists on independence but we
won't (allow it)," he said at National Police Headquarters.

Under the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement signed by GAM and
the government in December 2002, GAM agreed to accept special
autonomy status as the basis for future negotiations and to
disarm over a period of five months starting on Feb. 9, 2003.

Gaguk said on Monday he would assign police officers to guard
the JSC office in Langsa.

"We earlier advised the JSC monitors to get protection, but
they rejected that. From now on, we will insist on protecting
them because we don't want this violence to happen again," he
said.