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)