Ten killed in Aceh in past 48 hours

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Ten people, including two members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), one Indonesian Marine and six civilians have been killed in separate incidents over the past two days in the troubled province of Aceh.

The latest victim of the recent spate of violence was Zaini Sulaiman, 43, a member of Aceh's provincial legislative assembly, who was shot dead by an unidentified assailant at his residence in Darul Imara district, Aceh Besar, at 8 p.m., Antara reported.

Aceh Police spokesman Comr. Sudarsono confirmed the incident and said that Aceh Besar Police were investigating the murder.

On Saturday, an alleged victim of the violence was found dead at the village of Kutablang in Gandapura district, Bireun regency, some 200 kilometers from Banda Aceh.

An employee of Banda Aceh Red Cross said that the dead body was of a 20-year-old man, who had suffered gunshot wounds to the head.

Meanwhile, five decapitated bodies were found in Jantho district, Aceh Besar, some 50 kilometers east of Banda Aceh, on Friday evening.

All the decomposing male bodies were then rushed to Banda Aceh General Hospital by the Red Cross. "They have been claimed by their relatives," a Red Cross staffer said.

Earlier on Friday, a patrol by Indonesian soldiers in the village of Luengsa, Simpang Ulin district in East Aceh, were ambushed by armed members of GAM, Aceh military spokesman Lt. Col. Firdaus confirmed on Saturday.

The fatalities were First Pvt. Bambang Sutopo (an Indonesian Marine) and two unidentified rebels. "The three dead have been transported to the capital of North Sumatra, Medan," said Firdaus.

The soldiers were on an operation to find six crew members of the Ocean Silver tug boat abducted in Aceh by armed rebels last week, Firdaus said. "The troops also seized an AK-47 rifle, three Korean-made grenades, military uniforms and other items."

The GAM spokesman for East Aceh, Ishak Daud, said on Saturday that eight Indonesian soldiers were killed and 11 others were injured in the ambush, only one GAM member was shot dead.

Marine Operation Commander Lt. Col. Tori confirmed in Lhokseumawe on Saturday that his men were on a patrol searching for the six crew members of the Honduran flag carrying marine vessel who were allegedly abducted by GAM members in the Straits of Malacca last Tuesday.

Six unidentified armed men attacked the Ocean Silver and demanded Rp 300 million (US$34,000) in ransom before detaining six of the ship's crew. The other six crew members were allowed to go free with the ship, while the barge containing seven tons of coal was left to float adrift.

The barge carrying coal was found on Friday in the Straits of Malacca.

GAM also abducted three employees of state-owned television TVRI on Aug. 5 and a legislator from East Aceh Razali Usman on Aug. 20.

Megawati

Meanwhile, President Megawati Soekarnoputri has indefinitely delayed her visit to the restive province scheduled on Sept. 2.

After expressing her apologies to the Acehnese for past human rights violations, Megawati had planned to visit Aceh to take concrete reconciliatory measures to resolve the prolonged problems in Aceh.

Aceh separatists have been fighting for independence for almost 25 years. Violence has claimed thousands of lives.

The delay was announced after Friday's limited Cabinet meeting in Jakarta, but the reasons behind the decision were not made clear.

Governor of Aceh Abdullah Puteh cited technical reasons behind the delay.

Megawati's plan to visit Aceh has drawn mixed reactions.

GAM spokesman Sofyan Daud said that any visit by Indonesian officials to Aceh would make no difference in settling the province's problems.

Hasballah M. Saad, a public figure in Aceh, who was once minister for human rights said on Saturday that the short visit (by Megawati) would not resolve the prolonged problems in Aceh.

Farhan Hamid, another legislator, said earlier that Megawati's visit would be futile and would leave Acehnese indifferent unless she took sincere humanitarian steps to win the hearts of the Acehnese people, including the rebels. (50/sur)