Rebels resort to arson again in troubled Aceh

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): The official residence of the head of the Prosecutors' Office in Meureude district, Pidie regency and more than 10 shop-houses in Central Aceh regency were burned down on Friday. Police said armed separatist rebels were behind the fires.

No fatalities were reported in the two incidents.

Pidie Police Precinct chief Asst. Supt. Heru Budi Ersanto said the house of the prosecutor was burned down in the early hours of Friday morning.

An eye witness, Ainul Mardiah, a security guard at the prosecutor's house, told the police he ran to a nearby security post and called the police upon seeing a gang of armed men approaching the prosecutor's house.

The officers arrived after the men left and the fire had gutted the whole building.

Quoting Ainul, Heru said it was an arson attack perpetrated by at least 10 masked rebels armed with rifles.

"The arsonists initially ordered people inside the house to vacate the building before setting the house on fire," Heru added.

Heru did not say how many people were in the house when the incident took place, but the house was known to have been vacant for a long time.

The separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) could not be reached for comment about the incident.

Reports said that many armed rebels had escaped into the forest and hills since the police launched a massive operation against GAM over the past few days.

Also on Friday, deputy chief of Police Special Operation Cinta Meunasah Supt. Yatim Suyatmo said that six armed rebels had burned at least 10 shop-houses in Pondok Gajah village, Bandar district, Central Aceh.

"A group of unidentified man arrived in a pick-up car and poured gasoline over several buildings in the complex. They left after all the buildings were destroyed by fire," Suyatmo was quoted by Antara as saying.

He said the fire caused millions of rupiah in financial losses. (50/lup)