Thousands flee to forests in C. Aceh

Thousands flee to forests in C. Aceh

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Thousands of people in Central Aceh,
mostly women and children, have left their homes and fled to the
forest following outbreaks of violence in the regency over the
past week.

Around 300 of them arrived in Matangkuli subdistrict, North
Aceh, on Tuesday, and have been living in mosques in Blang Pante
and Peurupok villages in Matangkuli since then.

"We arrived here after walking through the forests for five
days with limited food; some of us had to eat leaves," said
Muhammad Ali, one of the refugees.

According to Ali, thousands of people from Bandar and Syiah
Utama subdistricts have fled their villages and entered the
forest for safety. "But some of them may have gone astray in
other areas," he said.

Spokesman for Security Restoration Command Adj. Sr. Comr. Sad
Harunantyo told The Jakarta Post that he had not received the
report of the move of thousands of refugees from Central Aceh to
North Aceh.

But the Security Restoration Command had noticed that some
members of Free Aceh Movement (GAM) have fled from North Aceh to
Central Aceh, according to Harunantyo.

Based on data presented by Commission A of the Aceh
Legislative Assembly, at least 80 people have been killed, dozens
missing and over 1,000 houses have been burned down.

Spokesman for the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) Hajarul Aswad
informed that PMI had collected 94 dead bodies, mostly from
Bandar, Syiah Utama and Timang Gajah subdistricts.

Most of those entering the forest and arriving in North Aceh
are from Gayo and Aceh ethnic groups, while thousands of migrants
settlers, mostly from Java, have sought refuge in Takengon,
occupying local administration's buildings.

There is confusion about the source of the violence which hit
Central Aceh recently. The Military (TNI)/Police and GAM have
accused each other of murder and arson in Central Aceh.

GAM has accused TNI/Police of giving arms to migrants from
Java.

"We have formed pam swakarsa (civil security group) at our own
initiative to counter GAM's intimidation," said Warsidi, one of
the migrants.

Commenting on the confusion, a member of parliament from Aceh,
Ahmad Farhan Hamid expressed his hope that the government would
form a fact-finding mission soon.

The contradictory information can stimulate further conflict
that will only aggravate the situation in Aceh, according to
Farhan in his letter sent to the TNI commander in Jakarta.

Violence continued the whole day in Central Aceh on Thursday,
claiming at least 10 victims, including four GAM members.

Commander of the 142nd Infantry Battalion Kesatria Jaya, Maj.
Suraji, disclosed that four GAM members were killed in a clash at
Kapal Baro village in Darul Amin subdistrict, East Aceh, when
they attacked a group of officials from the East Aceh
administration with homemade bombs.

Suraji said that all members of the group, including East Aceh
Regent Azman Usmanuddin, escaped unhurt in the clash.

GAM spokesman in East Aceh, Ishak Daud, said meanwhile that
three GAM members were killed in the clash, adding that the clash
also claimed the lives of some TNI members. (50)