RI deploys F-16s in Aceh war
RI deploys F-16s in Aceh war
Berni K. Moestafa, The Jakarta Post, Lhokseumawe, Aceh
Indonesia's most sophisticated jet fighters dropped bombs and
fired rockets at rebel positions on Monday, in their first
airstrike during the first month of war against Free Aceh
Movement (GAM) units.
Monday's airstrike was the first time that the American F-16
Fighting Falcon was used in combat since Indonesia purchased the
jets in 1996.
First strike force detachment commander Capt. Mohamad Fajar
said they hoped the airstrike could remove rebels from their
hideout near Babus Salam village in North Aceh regency, where the
military believed the GAM commander and its spokesman Sofyan
Dawood were hiding.
Two Fighting Falcons from Medan in North Sumatra dropped four
bombs in the area, a swampy stretch of land separated by a palm
oil plantation from Babus Salam.
Another two OV-10 Bronco planes, also from Medan, fired 16
rockets and 500 rounds from large caliber cannons at positions
believed to be occupied by rebel units, said Fajar at the
military observation post about three kilometers away from the
target area.
Indonesian Military personnel have complained in the past that
it was increasingly difficult to operate the American-made
warplanes due to a shortage of spare parts as the U.S. has not
yet lifted its arms embargo imposed on Indonesia following the
East Timor violence in 1999.
Several locals from Babus Salam, a village populated by mostly
Javanese transmigrants, watched and cheered as the fighters
struck the rebels bases.
However, only three targets out of 11 ordered were hit during
the 30-minute airstrike. More attacks in the area were being
planned, Fajar said.
The TNI began the assault on GAM positions on May 19 with an
airstrike using British-made Hawk jet planes. Britain expressed
objection to the use of its product in the military operation to
quell rebellion in Aceh, citing a pre-purchase deal between the
two countries not to use them against other Indonesians.
Air Force Chief of Staff Marshal Chappy Hakim had earlier
played down the use of F-16s in the operation in Aceh, saying the
government troops were facing a guerrilla war, not a conventional
war.
Fajar said that between 100 and 150 rebels were hiding along a
five-kilometer stretch within the target area which he said had
been a rebel stronghold for about three years.
Around 700 soldiers have surrounded the area, Fajar said. But
he said entering it was difficult and the rebels had often
slipped through the military cordon.
"The Indonesian Military (TNI) has never really been able to
control the area, so far we have only sent patrols inside," Fajar
said, adding that the area was also heavily booby trapped.
"With this air strike we hope to give them some shock
therapy," he said. "We hope the attack will force the rebels to
come out of their hiding place, as this will make it easier for
us to attack them."
He said that a number of teams moved into the target area
shortly after the air strike to tighten the encirclement around
the rebels.
Elsewhere in North Aceh, the government troops continued to
attack an alleged GAM stronghold in Jambo Aye district, located
some 90 kilometers east of Lhokseumawe.
He said the military had set up special units to attack
several locations where dozens of GAM members were allegedly
hiding.
The targets include Alue Kerakke village in Jambo Aye. Iwan
claimed that the military had conquered the villages of Paya
Cokai, Matang Maneh, Pucuk Alue and Lhok Beuringen, all formerly
known as rebel strongholds.
"Lhok Beringuen was formerly the biggest GAM stronghold in
Aceh. GAM officials have left the houses they used to live in.
The troops have occupied the houses and the village," Iwan said.
He claimed that the villagers asked the troops to stay in the
village as they were in fear of living under GAM oppression.
"People have told us about the presence of GAM," Iwan
remarked.
A day before, the troops were involved in a shootout with a
group of GAM members and managed to seize a number of firearms
and ammunition.