Seven killed in clashes in Aceh

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Seven people were killed as Army troops and police personnel clashed with members of the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in separate incidents on Thursday.

Both the Indonesian Military and GAM acknowledged the clash on Friday.

Chief of the security and order operation Adj. Comr. Agus Dwiyanto said on Friday that Army troops raided a GAM base in the village of Keude Dua in Idi district, East Aceh.

"A GAM member, Abdul Rahman, 25, was shot dead in a 15-minute shootout during the raid," Agus said. "Two rifles and some ammunition were seized."

GAM spokesman for East Aceh Ishak Daud confirmed the incident but accused the Army of also shooting four civilians. "One civilian, Muhammad Jubir, 35, was killed."

In the regency of Pidie, three members of a family, Diana, 60, Ambiah, 35, and Fajar, 2, were slain on Thursday by unidentified people in their residence in Cot Jaya village of the Simpang Tiga district.

Ambiah was the wife of First Sgt. Zulkifli, Fajar was their son and Diana, Zulkifli's mother-in-law. Zulkifli was killed by unidentified people last year.

Pidie Military District chief Lt. Col. Supartodi believed GAM was behind the killing of the three. This was later denied by local GAM spokesperson Abu Razak.

"GAM is not against civilians, moreover women and children."

Following the killing of Zulkifli's family, Army personnel combed the area of Alue Bubot in Bandar Baru district, believed to be the hideout of GAM commander Abdullah Syafiie.

The area is some 20 kilometers from the house of Zulkifli's wife.

Abu Razak said that the Army was involved in a fierce gun battle with GAM members. He claimed no GAM members were killed.

On Friday morning, Indonesian Red Cross staff along with the staff of the Lamno community health center in West Aceh discovered and removed two unidentified bodies.

The bodies with gunshot wounds were found on the side of the highway in Gunung Geureutee, around 50 kilometers south of Banda Aceh. (50/sur)