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)