Standoff continues in Lhokseumawe

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)