TNI, GAM told to maintain peace

BANDA ACEH, Aceh: The Switzerland-based Henry Dunant Centre (HDC) has called on both the Indonesian military and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) to restrain themselves from actions that would disrupt the cessation of hostilities agreement they signed last month.

"We regret the incidents in the past three days. We hope the two parties would control themselves and respect the peace agreement," HDC official, David Gorman, said here Friday.

Under the auspices of HDC, the Indonesian government and GAM signed the agreement on Dec 9, paving the way for both sides to end their decades-long conflict.

A group of GAM rebels ambushed two soldiers in Lokop sub- district in East Aceh district last Tuesday, killing one and injuring the other.

Another encounter occurred in Lamno sub-district, Aceh Java district, in which a soldier was wounded. GAM claimed the incident took place because the soldiers entered their territory.

Gorman said the two incidents could threaten the ongoing process to build mutual confidence between the two conflicting parties. -- Antara