Rioting and looting continue for second day in North Aceh
Rioting and looting continue for second day in North Aceh
JAKARTA (JP): Rioting and looting continued in Lhokseumawe on
Tuesday, the second consecutive day of unrest in the Aceh town
which erupted on Monday only hours after the second batch of
Armed Forces (ABRI) troops withdrew from the area.
There were no confirmed details about casualties in Tuesday's
unrest, but foreign news services said on Tuesday two people were
found killed with bullet wounds in the town 200 kilometers east
of the provincial capital of Banda Aceh.
The military said that around 200 buildings were damaged on
Monday when residents -- angered by nine years of heavy military
presence since 1989 -- damaged shops, offices, banks and hotels,
and burnt one discotheques in a burst of lawlessness.
The Armed Forces responded on Tuesday by threatening to send
troops back to the province.
Bukit Barisan Regional Military Commander Maj. Gen. Ismed
Yuzairi said in Medan, North Sumatra, that if riots continued and
endangered stability and security, "we will send (the troops
back)".
However, the commander also said that the situation was now
under control.
Antara reported that the riot erupted shortly after noon on
Monday after residents witnessed the farewell ceremony held for
the 659 troops, and continued until late into the evening.
The chief of the local Lilawangsa military district, Col.
Dasiri Musnar, said in Lhokseumawe that a local Golkar office and
the Bank Central Asia branch office were among the buildings
vandalized. There are no estimates on the material losses yet.
Dasiri alleged the riots had been organized, but could not yet
name any suspects. Without certain parties' instigation, the
people could not have been so violent, he said.
National Police chief Lt. Gen. Roesmanhadi confirmed in
Jakarta that the police had identified a number of people who
were allegedly behind the violence. He did not elaborate.
However, there have been no reports of arrests. Dasiri only
called on the locals to return to the authorities any goods they
had looted.
The local administration appealed to religious and community
leaders in the staunchly Moslem region to help restore calm and
peace.
Antara also said that 120 prisoners fled the Lhokseumawe
penitentiary when it was attacked by a mob during the riot. The
assistant to the regional military commander for intelligence
operations, Col. Liliek A.S. said 97 prisoners escaped but had
returned voluntarily.
Aceh Governor Syamsuddin Mahmud deplored the riot and said it
occurred just as the region had been declared a safe region that
did not merit a heavy military presence.
He said in Banda Aceh on Tuesday: "This is unfortunate for us,
therefore I appeal to the people to be patient and stay calm
since we have promised the government that Aceh is now safe.
"This is a challenge for the people because the riot erupted
shortly after the troops' withdrawal," added Syamsuddin.
In Jakarta, an association of Acehnese people grouped in the
Taman Iskandar Muda, also deplored the incident, especially
because it occurred right after the troops' withdrawal.
Chairman Mustafa Abubakar said he could not believe that
Acehnese people could be anarchic and called on them to initiate
peaceful reform.
The respected National Commission on Human Rights said last
week that at least 781 people were killed and thousands of others
had suffered during the military operations in the westernmost
province.
The rights commission plans to hold a press conference here on
Wednesday to announce its final analysis on the military
atrocities in Aceh.
The commission's preliminary report drew criticism from the
military. Armed Forces Chief Gen. Wiranto said the commission
should have consulted the military before going public with the
report.
State Minister of Women's Affairs Tutty Alawiyah said in Banda
Aceh on Tuesday that the local government would soon establish a
team to arrange compensation for women and children who suffered
during the military operations. (byg/21/edt/01)