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.