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)