Standoff continues in Lhokseumawe
LANGSA, Aceh (JP): Troops continued on Friday to seal off Kandang village near Lhokseumawe in the hope frustrated residents would hand over separatist leader Ahmad Kandang, believed to be in hiding with his followers.
The authorities are considering the most effective approach to raid the village and arrest Ahmad without causing bloodshed, Lilawangsa Military Commander Col. Johnny Wahab told The Jakarta Post from Lhokseumawe, the North Aceh regency capital about 200 kilometers northwest of here.
"We are trying to catch the fish without disturbing the pond," Johnny said.
At least four military trucks and dozens of soldiers were posted at various locations, barring all access to the village.
"The villagers are now isolated... they can't go outside, they can't buy food, if the situation continues like this, they may become upset with Ahmad Kandang (and turn him in)," Johnny said.
Meanwhile in Jakarta on Friday, a group of Acehnese community figures met with President B.J. Habibie to express support for the country and reject notions their four million populace wanted independence.
On Sunday, troops raided alleged separatist targets in Kandang and Pusong village, killing at least 11 in the process and injuring more than 32.
The raids were prompted by the killing of seven off-duty soldiers in Lhok Nibung, about 100 kilometers west of here, and the kidnapping of two marines in the North Aceh district of Muara Dua last week.
The military said Ahmad was responsible for the incidents.
Meanwhile, on the last day of their three-day fact-finding trip to the province, members of the National Commission on Human Rights visited Lhok Nibung and Langsa, the capital of East Aceh regency.
A witness to the incidents, Syarifudin Ibe, 28, described to the group how several people appeared in the area on the morning of Dec. 29 and stopped vehicles to search for suspected "ninja- clad killers".
The local military accuses Ahmad and his followers of spreading rumors the killers, like those who allegedly butchered about 200 Muslim preachers and witchcraft practitioners in East Java last year, were also operating in the area.
"We did not know those men," Syarifudin said.
Another witness, Jalil, 51, said the strangers did not allow the villagers to approach them.
Villagers complained about the tardy arrival of troops despite their early report to the military.
East Aceh Military Commander Lt. Col. Ilyas attributed the tardiness to problems in logistics.
"Langsa is 100 kilometers from Lhok Nibung so it took us some time to send troops," Ilyas told commission members.
Mission leader Albert Hasibuan later told the Post in Medan, North Sumatra, that commission members were willing to act as the mediator in negotiations between the military and Ahmad Kandang to prevent violence.
Albert revealed that two detainees the commission visited admitted to being members of the separatist movement.
In Jakarta, Aceh leaders urged President Habibie to quickly resolve cases of human rights violations during the military operation from 1989 to 1998 in the province.
They also told the President to release all political prisoners in the province and help victims of the rights violations.
Special status
They also reminded Habibie of the special status accorded the province by the central government 40 years ago.
Founding president Sukarno granted the status to Aceh, Yogyakarta and Jakarta for the role of their people and leaders in the nation's struggle for independence.
"We urge the President to quickly grant amnesty, drop charges and rehabilitate all political prisoners and detainees in Aceh," said provincial council speaker H.T. Djohan in a statement read before Habibie at Merdeka Palace.
The statement was signed by six government officials, including Aceh Governor Syamsuddin Mahmud, Djohan, Aceh Military Commander Col. Asril Hamzah Tanjung and Aceh Police chief Djurhanus Wiradinata.
Minister of Defense/Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto and Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung also attended the meeting.
The President ordered Wiranto, in his capacity as executive chairman of the Council for Enforcement of Security and Law, to probe human rights abuses in the province. (byg/prb/21)