Three policemen injured in latest Aceh violence

JAKARTA (JP): Three members of the National Police's Mobile Brigade were injured on Wednesday in the latest violence between security personnel and members of the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in the troubled province.

The operational commander of the North Aceh Police, Capt. Muryanto, was quoted by Antara news agency as saying the three officers were wounded in an ambush in Kandang, some three kilometers east of the North Aceh capital of Lhokseumawe.

The area is known to be a GAM stronghold.

Muryanto also said that later on Wednesday, security personnel and separatist rebels exchanged gunfire in the Cot Ijue area of Bireuen, some 40 kilometers east of Lhokseumawe.

He did not elaborate on this later incident, saying he was awaiting further reports from security personnel on the ground, the news agency said.

Meanwhile in Pidie, local military commander Lt. Col. Iskandar M.S. said troops were continuing their operations to root out rebels in a number of villages in Jiem Jiem.

The military reported at least two rebels were killed in skirmishes in the area on Tuesday.

In South Aceh, three alleged rebels were killed during a gunfight with security officers in Simpang Kiri district on Tuesday night.

South Aceh Police detectives chief Capt. Teddy Marbun identified the three fatalities as Rahmadi, 28, Abdullah, 30, Idris, 31.

Another civilian died from gunshot wounds in the regency on Tuesday. Muchtar, 25, a resident of Pulo Paya Trumon village was shot dead by Mobile Brigade Police troops in front of a police station for fleeing a routine search.

The resource-rich Aceh has been wracked by clashes between troops and suspected rebels amid mounting demands for a referendum on self-rule in the province. (50/edt/byg)