Security in Aceh generally improving, police claim

Security in Aceh generally improving, police claim

By Muharram M. Nur

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Security in Aceh has generally improved
over the past few days although tension remains high in some
villages where troops have been raiding places they suspect were
Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatist hideouts, police spokesman
Adj. Cmr. Sad Harunantyo announced on Wednesday.

The national red-and-white flags fly everywhere as Indonesia
is bracing to celebrate its 56th anniversary on Aug. 17, on high-
rise buildings, along streets and in houses.

Government offices have been adorned with red-and-white
ornaments. Motorcycles and cars roam the streets with palm-sized
Indonesian flags waving.

This sort of mood has not been common over the past two years,
when GAM flags -- the moon and star on a red background -- have
dominated the streets. Between 1999 and 2000, graffiti demanding
a referendum were ubiquitous. Now, they have been largely cleaned
up.

Traffic along the main highway between the capital of North
Sumatra, Medan and Banda Aceh has been normal. Business
activities along the highway have also returned to normal. Shops
are now open until 10 p.m.

However, security checks at about 50 places have delayed the
bus journey from Medan to Banda Aceh from the normal 10 hours to
15 hours. Roadblocks are set up in many places along the highway
to force vehicles to slow down for security checks.

Passengers complain that there are too many security
checkpoints.

"We no longer have time to snooze on the bus during the trip,"
said Effendi Yusuf, who had just arrived in Banda Aceh from
Medan.

GAM leaders claim that the omnipresent red-and-white flags
have been raised because of police and military pressure.

"Anyone who refuses to raise the (red-and-white) flag at their
residence are subject to murder and their houses set ablaze,"
said Sofyan Daud, the self-styled spokesman of the Free Aceh
Sumatra's army.

But Sofyan's statement was countered by Sad Harunantyo, who
said that people raised the flag on their own free will.

He insisted that the people of Aceh have always longed for
peace in the province. He charged that GAM activists have been
involved in torching houses of local residents and the killing of
innocent civilians.

The number of murders remains high. On Wednesday, three people
were killed in Aceh Besar alone as the army continued to crack
down on rebels.

Sudharsono claimed that all of those killed were GAM rebels.

"The clash broke out when a group of GAM rebels ambushed a
joint military and police patrol," he said.

Meanwhile, Ayah Sofyan, GAM spokesman in Aceh Besar, claimed
that the three were all civilians killed when the security
authorities opened fire indiscriminately at villagers fleeing the
military presence.

Also on Wednesday, two bombs went off outside Rawa Sakti
Sports Stadium at 5:30 p.m. while a soccer competition was in
progress. Nobody was injured in the incident.

Before ascending to the presidency, Megawati Soekarnoputri had
pledged that there should be no more bloodshed in Aceh. However,
she is yet to see her dream come true. Between her being elected
as president on July 23 and Wednesday Aug.1, 43 people had been
killed in various incidents in Aceh.

Official figures show that 31 of those killed were civilian
(whom the security authorities claim were GAM activists), nine
were confirmed GAM members, two were policemen and one was a
soldier.

Over 1,000 people have been killed over the past seven months
in the restive territory.