Two soldiers, one civilian killed in Aceh

Two soldiers, one civilian killed in Aceh

JAKARTA (JP): Three bodies, including those of two military
personnel, were found at Teupin Batee village in Idie Rayeuk
district, East Aceh, on Tuesday evening, a senior official said.

Lilawangsa Military Commander Col. Jhonny Wahab told The
Jakarta Post on Wednesday night the corpses of the three men
displayed multiple stab wounds, while their necks had been broken
and their hands bound.

The bodies were discovered in separate sacks found by Teupin
Batee locals at 8 p.m. on Tuesday on a deserted road connecting
Banda Aceh and the North Sumatra capital of Medan, he said.

"We were first tipped off by local people about the discovery
of the corpses. I then asked my men to check the information and
collect the bodies," Jhonny said.

He identified the two soldiers as Pvt. Syukur and Pvt. Isdar
from Infantry Battalion 111 Tualang Cut of East Aceh.

"The civilian has not yet been identified," he said.

He said a group of about 60 unidentified people raided Keudee
Geureubak village in Idi Rayeuk district at approximately 11 a.m.
on Tuesday.

"They were armed with seven AK-47s and one GLM long barrel
rifle."

He said the group ended the raid by abducting the two soldiers
and the civilian.

Syukur was to be buried in Banda Aceh, while Isdar would be
buried in Jeumpa district in North Aceh, he said.

Johny said military personnel were combing the area for those
responsible for the attack.

Late Tuesday in North Aceh a group of unidentified people
showered bullets at the base of the Indonesian 204th Airforce
Radar Unit at Bukit Rata village in Muara Dua district, about
seven kilometers east of the North Aceh capital of Lhokseumawe.

No fatalities were reported in the 10 minute attack, that took
place at about 9 p.m. on Tuesday.

"The people bombarded the Radar Base Unit by using AK-47s and
GLM long barrel rifles," Maj. Akhmad Toha, commander of the base,
said on Wednesday.

Toha speculated that more than one perpetrator was responsible
for the shootings.

"We had no chance to fire back, because the attackers hurried
to flee the site immediately after the attack," he said.

Following the incident, approximately 200 personnel from the
Crack Riot Troops (PPRM) task force were deployed to the area.

Toha said at least 10 bullet shells from AK-47 rifles, two
GLM's bullet shells, three dry batteries and one turban, were
found about 60 meters from the base.

"The attackers allegedly attacked the base from that site," he
said.

In Jakarta, Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Wiranto
said TNI would take harsh measures against any parties found
provoking local communities and raising tensions in the area.

"Any parties who commit acts of provocation to raise tension
in communities will face TNI and Aceh communities," he said prior
to a Cabinet meeting at Bina Graha presidential office. (asa/46/prb)