Seven killed in Aceh violence

Seven killed in Aceh violence

BANDA ACEH, Aceh: Two Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel, two
alleged members of the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and
three civilians died in armed conflict here on Wednesday and
Thursday, a military officer said on Thursday.

TNI spokesman in Aceh province Maj. Zaenal Mutaqin said Sgt.
Maj. Teuku Amir of Banda Sakti Subdistrict Military Command was
shot by two armed men in front of a bank in Lhokseumawe, North
Aceh, on Thursday morning. He died later in the day at Lilawangsa
Military Hospital in Lhokseumawe.

Another soldier, Corp. Sukri, died in a clash with GAM members
at Lhong village in Aceh Besar regency, some 40 kilometers
southeast of Banda Aceh on Wednesday, said TNI spokesman in Banda
Aceh Maj. Ertoto.

Ertoto claimed that two GAM members died in a clash with TNI
troops at Panga village in West Aceh, some 160 kilometers
southeast of Banda Aceh. One of the two victims was identified as
Tengku Hasbi, 40.

But, a GAM leader in the Lhong and Panga area said the two
victims in Panga were not GAM members, but civilians.

Also in West Aceh, armed men launched an attack on the
residence of Blang Teungoh village's chief in Kuala subdistrict,
killing the village chief Kechik Zulkifli, 50, an activist with
the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) said.

In North Aceh a contractor for state gas company PT Arun NGL
Co., identified as Usman Yusuf, 26, died after being shot by two
unidentified men on Wednesday. Zaenal believed the two were GAM
members.

Local GAM spokesman Tengku Jamaika accused the military troops
of having killed Usman.

Meanwhile, in Bireuen regency, a male corpse was found with
neck wounds at the roadside in Gandapura subdistrict on
Wednesday, a PMI activist said.-- JP