Thousands flee their homes in troubled Aceh
Thousands flee their homes in troubled Aceh
BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Some 2,000 villagers from Indrapuri
district, Aceh Besar regency fled their homes to seek shelter in
Banda Aceh on Saturday fearing renewed clashes between Free Aceh
Movement (GAM) separatists and security forces.
"We decided to abandon our houses in anticipation of fresh
gunfights because we learned that security personnel had launched
an operation to find the GAM base in Indrapura district," a
resident who refused to be named said on Sunday.
The residents left their villages some 30 kilometers east of
Banda Aceh and set up tents at Teuku Cik Di Tiro building and at
the Provincial Council compound here.
However, the spokesman for Police Special Operation Cinta
Meunasah Sr. Supt. Kusbini Imbar said GAM rebels had forced local
residents to evacuate their villages.
Police launched a special operation in the area on Friday to
locate GAM's base in the district and find 14 district leaders,
two legislators, Aceh Besar regent Sayuthi Ismail and a staff
member whom they claimed were kidnapped by rebels on Tuesday.
GAM's armed wing commander in Aceh Besar, Ayah Muni, on
Saturday evening countered the allegations saying that villagers
were terrified of the police sweeping operations in the area.
Ayah Muni acknowledged that the officials had been at the GAM
base in the area, but maintained that they were not kidnaped but
were "invited" there to discuss the situation ravaging the
province.
"They were there as guests, representing Acehnese and not as
administration officials. They are all fine and returned home on
Friday," he assured.
GAM claimed that Indonesian security forces had violated the
Humanitarian Pause with its sweeping operation to find the GAM
base in Aceh Besar.
Kusbini pointed out that GAM continued its terrorist attacks
by torching the Syiah Kuala district office in Banda Aceh on
Saturday evening.
No casualties were reported.
"The rebels want to paralyze the activities of the Aceh
administration," he said.
Kusbini accused the rebels of intensifying attacks against
security personnel by planting booby traps along Jl. Raya Banda
Aceh-Medan, in Indrapuri and Seulimuem area.
"No fatalities were reported because the explosions did not
damage the security vehicles," he added.
Clashes also continued elsewhere in Aceh.
Cinta Meunasah deputy spokesman Supt. Yatim Suyatmo said a
rebel, identified as Tajuddin Ambia, was killed in a gunfight
between Army soldiers and GAM rebels in Keutu Linteung, Seunagan
district, West Aceh on Saturday.
"Five other rebels managed to get away," he said,.
Yatim also said residents found two unidentified bodies on
Saturday, bearing gunshot wounds on Tamian river bridge, Kuala
Simpang district, East Aceh. (50/lup)