Six GAM men killed, 14 surrender

BANDA ACEH: The Indonesian Military (TNI) claimed on Sunday that it had recently shot dead four members of the Aceh Free Movement (GAM) while 14 others surrendered.

TNI military operation spokesman Lt. Col. Ahmad Yani Basuki revealed the six were killed in two separate clashes in Kampung Paloh village, Ganda Pura district, and in Kampung Blang Mane village, Peusangan district, all in Bireun regency, on Saturday.

Yani also claimed that as many as 14 GAM members from several regencies, including South, North and West Aceh, had surrendered to military authorities on Saturday.

"They realized that GAM's struggle was no longer clear or hopeful. We call on other members to follow their friends to surrender," Yani said.

Last week, as many as 27 GAM members also surrendered themselves to the military.

Hundreds of GAM members and civilians have been killed since the implementation of martial law in May this year. -- Antara