Police vow war with Aceh rebels

Police vow war with Aceh rebels

JAKARTA (JP): Aceh Police vowed on Monday to use any legal
means to fight Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatist rebels in the
province.

Speaking at a media conference here, chief of the provincial
police Col. Bahrumsyah called the rebel group members "criminals"
and said security authorities would continue a crackdown on the
group for their unlawful acts in the province.

Bahrumsyah was accompanied by former commander of the Crack
Riot Troops (PPRM) in Aceh, Col. Ridhwan Karim, who handed over
his post to Col. Nurdin on Thursday.

"The separatist rebels have justified any means to terrorize
Aceh people, including intimidation, extortion of money and
provocation to attack law enforcers," Bahrumsyah said.

In the latest attack on PPRM troops deployed to the troubled
province since May, the bodies of two personnel were found with
slashed necks last week.

Bahrumsyah reiterated that escalating violence in the
country's westernmost province was not only caused by the
presence of police or military personnel, but was the result of
crimes committed by rebel groups.

He denied media reports which said villagers sought refuge
away from their villages for fear of violent measures by the
military and police.

"These issues on refugees have been manipulated to marshal
public opinion about human rights violations by security
personnel," Bahrumsyah said.

He said the number of the separatist rebels and their weapon
stocks were unknown factors.

Ridhwan said police had difficulties identifying groups who
they claimed incited residents to commit recent acts of violence.

"Unidentified armed groups frequently prevent us from entering
a village where an incident is reported. But if we manage to
reach the village, residents there refuse to talk to us for fear
of the groups' threat," Ridhwan said.

Both Ridhwan and Bahrumsyah suspected rebel groups smuggled
guns and artillery into the area, because there were no weapon
factories in the province.(03/emf)