Troops shoot protesters in Aceh, 23 wounded
JAKARTA (JP): At least 23 people were seriously injured in Meulaboh, West Aceh, on Tuesday afternoon when military troops opened fire on thousands of demonstrators who took to the streets to demand a self-determination referendum for the troubled province, witnesses said.
A correspondent of Serambi Indonesia daily in Meulaboh, Zahrial, reported military personnel shot the protesters as they attempted to force their way into the compound of the local military command.
The mob burned the legislative council building at Simpang Tugu Pelor near Jl. Iskandar Muda before marching to the military command.
"At least 15 of the injured demonstrators are still in critical condition at Cuk Nyak Dhien Hospital," Zahrial told The Jakarta Post by phone.
The violence follows President Abdurrahman Wahid's order the Indonesian Military investigate local military personnel allegedly involved in the fatal shooting of more than 50 people in July in the West Aceh subdistrict of Beutong Ateuh.
Zahrial said the mob burned the legislative council building after discovering the 45 legislators had left the building, ignoring protesters' demand for a meeting.
"The building was completely destroyed," Zahrial said.
The situation in Meulaboh remained tense as of Tuesday evening, with shops closed and no public transportation operating, Zahrial said.
Indonesian Military spokesman Maj. Gen. Sudradjat confirmed the shooting, but said only one protester was shot during the clash, which broke out after the mob failed to force Capt. Syamsul Arif to lower the Indonesian flag flying in the military compound.
"When the two sides failed to reach an agreement, the mob tried to force their way into the compound and security troops had no choice but to fire warning shots," Sudradjat told Antara new agency.
Meanwhile, the National Commission on Human Rights' representative in Aceh, Iqbal Farabi, expressed surprise at the burning of the legislative building and the protesters' attempt to force their way into the military compound. He said demonstrations in other cities in Aceh usually proceeded peacefully.
"The people actually just wanted to burn all the documents in the (council) office, but the fire razed the whole building," Iqbal said.
He said the rally on Tuesday was staged by the Taliban student group, adding that the group had never before resorted to violence in pressing their demands for a referendum.
"This is a new phenomenon for Aceh," Iqbal said.
Iqbal said street protests to demand a self-determination referendum for the province had become routine in Aceh's 11 regencies and two mayoralties over the past two months. Protesters usually read an identical statement and ask the local legislators to sign it, he added.
Iqbal said the military and police were generally tolerant of protesters, and most fatalities and injuries during demonstrations were the result of traffic accidents.
Meanwhile, the chief of the Bukit Barisan Military Command overseeing Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra and Riau, Maj. Gen. Rahman Gaffar, said the investigation into the July killing of 51 people, including religious leader Teungku Bantaqiah, would begin soon.
"We are still waiting instructions from the investigative team in Jakarta. The investigation will also look into inhumane acts committed by GAM, which has killed scores of innocent soldiers and police officers," Rahman told Antara. GAM is the separatist Free Aceh Movement.
Disputing a fact-finding team's report that Bantaqiah was an innocent civilian, Rahman said the religious leader was involved in weapons and marijuana.
Rahman also alleged that Bantaqiah, a former political prisoner, was responsible for the killing of 14 soldiers and police officers in West Aceh. (51/byg/prb)