TNI kills 120 GAM members

BANDA ACEH: The Indonesia Military (TNI) killed 120 members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in a series of gunfights during the past two weeks, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu said on Thursday.

"In the past two weeks, we were forced to kill 120 GAM members and confiscate their weapons," he said during a visit to Banda Aceh.

Ryamizard said as many as 20,000 soldiers have continued the security operation against the rebels in Aceh, which is struggling to survive after the earthquake and tsunami ravaged the restive province on Dec. 26.

The TNI deployed another 15,000 to help humanitarian efforts for tsunami victims in Aceh, where the rebels have been fighting for independence since 1976. -- Antara