Three soldiers questioned over rapes
The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh/Lhokseumawe, Aceh
Three soldiers are currently being interrogated by Military Police in Lhokseumawe on suspicion of raping four women in Aceh between June 20 and 22.
Military operation spokesman Lt. Col. Ahmad Yani Basuki said in Lhokseumawe on Sunday that the three, identified only as Private SP, Private HD, and Private HL, had committed the crimes separately on different days in North Aceh. The victims were identified as SB, 25; HS, 25; AS, 21; and NL, 19.
The three were arrested on Friday afternoon, and during questioning later that evening, the three soldiers admitted the crimes.
"The questioning of the three suspects and the witnesses has led us to the conclusion that the three did indeed committed the crimes," Antara quoted Yani as saying.
Meanwhile, the military killed eight alleged members of the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and captured four others in a series of gunfights with the rebels from Saturday through to dawn on Sunday.
At least six alleged GAM members were killed during a gunfight in Sukamulyo village, Kerta Makmur district, while one was killed in Alue Dua, Nisam district, and another one was found dead in Karang Baru district.
A gunfight erupted in North Aceh on Sunday at 6 a.m. when troops led by Second Lt. Alfin Junjung attacked GAM rebels in Dewantara district.
Separately, troops led by First Lt. Tunjung attacked rebels in Alue Dua village, Nisam district. One rebel was killed and the soldiers seized 75 rounds of SP ammunition, 78 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, green berets and chemical substances.
In Pidie regency, a unit headed by Second Lt. Eka Purnama ambushed three alleged separatist rebels in Monasa Pauh village on Saturday. One rebel, Mahadi, 21, was captured. He was carrying a battery, photographs and medicines.
In South Aceh, troops under Capt. Sunardiono arrested three alleged rebels -- Musriadi, 30, Muntasir, 33, and Lasjuadi, 33.
An unidentified body was found in the village of Alur Bambang, Aceh Tamiang. The dead man had been shot in the back.
In Central Aceh regency, a farmer, Ngatimin, 60, was found dead with a gash to his neck.
In addition, some 19 GAM rebels in Alue Lelang village, Bendahara district, surrendered to the security forces.
According to the martial law administration in Aceh, at least 294 rebels have been killed since the government started its so- called integrated operation on May 19. Aside from those killed, 233 others have been captured, and 248 have surrendered.
Meanwhile on Saturday, a Japanese photographer, whom police said had illegally entered the troubled province on a tourist visa, left Aceh while American journalist William Nesson remained in police detention.
After two nights in custody, immigration officers drove photographer Takagi Tadatomo, 25, from North Aceh to Medan in neighboring North Sumatra province, said Misrie of the North Aceh immigration office.
The Japanese national was arrested Thursday night while taking pictures of refugees fleeing clashes between GAM fighters and government forces, the military said.
Takagi's detention came a day after American freelance reporter William Nessen was held for police questioning over possible visa misuse. Nessen continued to be questioned Saturday.
Asked about the difference between the two cases, Aceh police spokesman Sayed Huseiny said Takagi was not a journalist and his pictures were for his private collection.
And unlike Nessen, Takagi had not spend weeks with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels, Huseiny said.