Security forces, GAM chiefs move to reduce violence
Security forces, GAM chiefs move to reduce violence
BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): As commanders from the Indonesian
security forces and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) concluded their
peace talks, fresh violence hit the disputed province leaving
eight persons dead in its wake, officials said over the weekend.
Representatives of the warring sides met in Banda Aceh and
agreed on a five-point accord in a move to suppress violence. The
accord, among other things, makes provision for regular
consultations between field commanders from both the security
forces and GAM, a joint statement said on Saturday.
Included in the agreement were security guarantees for aid
workers in the region.
"We can now see a ray of hope for the resolution of Aceh's
problems. Yes, violence is still being reported but we hope that
it will subside soon," Aceh governor Abdullah Puteh said on
Saturday after the two days of discussions which ended late on
Friday.
The Geneva-based Henry Dunant Center for Humanitarian Dialogue
mediated in the talks, the latest move in the prolonged efforts
to bring peace to Aceh.
Friday's talks involved on the government side Sr. Comr.
Suyitno, Sr. Comr. Manahan Daulay and Sr. Comr. Ridwan Karim
while three deputy operational commanders from GAM were also
present, including Tengku Amri bin Abdul Wahab and Tengku Saiful
bin Moh. Ali, as well as two members of the monitoring team,
Muhammad Daim and Nasrullah Dahlawi.
Meanwhile, detained chief of the Aceh Referendum Information
Center (SIRA) Muhammad Nazar said on Sunday that he had been
informed that his trial would be moved from Medan back to Aceh.
"My lawyers have received a copy of a letter issued by the
Ministry of Justice and Human Rights about the matter but I
haven't been told the date yet," Nazar told The Jakarta Post on
Sunday.
Nazar, who has been in detention since Nov. 20 of last year,
organized a mass congress to demand a referendum on freedom for
Aceh.
He is being charged under Articles 154 and 155 of the
Criminal Code on treason, which carry a maximum sentence of seven
years in jail.
Meanwhile, the violence continued unabated in the province as
eight people were killed, including three children, and scores of
others injured on Saturday and Sunday in separate incidents in
the regencies of North Aceh, Pidie, West Aceh, South Aceh and
Bireun.
In Bireun at around 10 a.m. on Sunday, a group of passing
police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) troopers was the target of a bomb
which was planted at the side of the road in Blang Keude village,
Gandapura district.
Two civilians were shot dead and three others injured
following the blast, Agusnus Husein, an eyewitness who survived
the incident, said on Sunday. Agusnus is being treated at
Gandapura community health post.
In North Aceh, rebels fired on troops stationed near the
Exxon-Oil gas installation in Serba Yaman village on Saturday,
killing a 15-year-old boy named Sukirman in the process, local
police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Wanto Sumardi said.
"We have no choice but to attack the security forces as they
often conduct raids on our villages. Exxon-Oil also has to share
the responsibility as they let the company compound be used as a
military base," GAM's Abu Sofyan Daud said.
In restive Pidie, which is known as a GAM stronghold, two
teenagers, Zikri Abubakar, 16, and Moh. Amat, 18, were found dead
with gunshot wounds following an operation to locate rebels in
the vicinity of Blang Lamkaca village.
In West Aceh, two civilians, Arjuna, 32 and Ramli, 40, were
found dead, with their bodies showing signs of severe torture,
while three soldiers were injured during a rebel attack on Gedong
Sungai Mas village on Saturday, Adj. Sr. Comr. Her Aris Sumarman
said.
"Several houses were also gutted by fire during the attack,"
he said.
In South Aceh, a civilian, Syarii Abdullah, was found shot
dead in Batu Itam village in Tapak Tuan on Saturday.
In Central and East Aceh, nine people were wounded following
clashes between troops and guerrillas over the weekend.
(50/51/edt)