Six rebels, three troops killed in Aceh

Ibnu Mat Noor, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh

Six members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and three members of the Indonesian Military (TNI) died early on Thursday during a clash in Blang Baroh village, Jantho subdistrict, Aceh Besar regency, about 60 kilometers from Banda Aceh.

Local military spokesman, Maj. Zaenal Muttaqin, told the press in Lhokseumawe on Thursday that the gun battle began when TNI forces attacked a GAM hideout in the village.

He said some 14 soldiers from TNI surrounded the GAM hideout on Wednesday night at about 10 p.m. The clash began at 6 a.m. on Thursday.

The three victims from the TNI were identified as Second Sgt. Laparo, a member of the Army's Special Force (Kopassus), and First Pvt. Hendro also of Kopassus and Chief Private Hamid of the Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad).

Their bodies were taken to Kesdam Iskandar Muda Hospital and will be flown to their units in Jakarta on Friday.

Zaenal said the six GAM members killed in the clash had not yet been identified.

He also said the TNI soldiers confiscated evidence from the hideout, including an M-16 rifle, two Colt pistols, a radio communications set and ammunition.

The GAM spokesman in Aceh Besar, Ayah Sofyan, said on Thursday that GAM forces and the TNI were involved in a gun battle in the village, but he could not confirm the number of dead.

"We are currently investigating the incident," he said.

GAM has been fighting for an independent Aceh state since 1976.