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.