Two more govt offices attacked in Banda Aceh

Two more govt offices attacked in Banda Aceh

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Armed separatist rebels launched two
separate bomb and arson attacks on two government offices in the
past two days, a senior police officer said on Saturday.

The attacks on the provincial Ministry of Justice and Human
Rights on Saturday morning and the Banda Aceh Agency of Industry
office the previous day has brought the number of state
facilities damaged by unknown agitators to at least 10 within
three weeks. Most attacks were located in the Aceh provincial
capital of Banda Aceh.

Aceh Besar Police chief Supt. Sayed Hoesainy refused to
identify the rebels or their supporters, but said the attackers
were members of the armed separatist rebel group, which usually
refers to the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).

"We think the attacks at the two government facilities were
planned by the same group," Sayed said, adding that the
industrial agency office was located next to the residence of
Banda Aceh Mayor Zulkarnaen.

Judging from the way the attacks were carried out -- by first
pouring gasoline on the site before detonating homemade bombs --
the police said the two latest incidents were related to the
recent attacks on several other government facilities.

Hoesainy said the police were still in the dark on the motive
was for the attacks.

He said the group might only be aiming to disturb the peace
and security in Banda Aceh.

At both buildings, the police found some 10 meters of wire,
which they suspect was used to detonate the bombs from a
distance.

Hoesainy said his office had decided to step up security
measures, especially during evening hours, as arson attacks by
armed rebels were still a threat.

"We want to make sure that public security in the area is
under control," he said.

The other buildings recently attacked by the unknown
assailants are the Provincial City Council, the Environmental
Impact Management Agency, the National Land Agency, the offices
of Religious Affairs in Syiah Kala, the National Family Planning
Coordinating Board, the City Public Works Agency, the Pidie
Regent's office and the official residence of the Aceh Besar
regent.

The police, who said they did not have enough evidence,
accused armed separatist rebels as those responsible for the
attacks. The police have not arrested any suspects.

A police sweep conducted on Saturday afternoon in the areas of
Limpo village in Aceh Besar, where some GAM members were
suspected to be, ended in a clash, with one resident injured by
gunshot, Hoesainy said.

At least 12 other locals were being held for questioning.

Aceh Regional Police chief Doddy Sumantyawan previously
pledged on Friday to continue patrolling and monitoring security
in the province to hamper the activities of armed rebels.

Separately, in Idi district, East Aceh, two locals at a
drinking stall were seriously wounded on Saturday after they were
shot by two unidentified men on a motorcycle.

Local residents said one of the victims was known in the
neighborhood for his close relationship with the military in the
past during the implementation of the military operation areas
(DOM) in the province.

The nine-year-long military operation areas, launched in 1989,
enabled a militaristic approach to curb the activities of the
security disturbance group (GPK) in Aceh.

The National Commission on Human Rights said 39,000 Acehnese
were killed and 1,000 were still in military detention. Military
data shows 760 deaths, comprising 111 soldiers, with 243
civilians killed by armed rebels and 406 armed rebels killed by
the military during the DOM era.

Locals in Idi district believe the assailants in the incident
on Saturday were suspected of eradicating witnesses of the human
rights violations in Aceh.

East Aceh Police chief Supt.Abdullah Hayati confirmed the
shooting but gave no further details.

In another related development, North Aceh Police chief Supt.
Abadan Bangko said on Saturday that two GAM members were killed
when they attempted to attack patrolling police in Geulanggang
Teungoh village in Bireuen regency a day earlier.

"Six armed rebels intercepted the police with sporadic
gunfire. Four managed to escape shortly afterward," he said.

The police's version was in contradiction to local residents,
who said there was no gunfight and the two were shot after they
refused to obey a police order to stop their motorcycle.

GAM spokesperson Abu Sofyan Daud said the two men shot dead by
the police were not the movement's members. He insisted that
there was no gunfight in Geulanggang village on that day.
(50/lup)