Villagers take GAM relatives hostage
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Residents of Kuala district, Nagan Raya, took the law into their own hands over the weekend, taking hostage 36 family members of suspected members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).
According to military authorities, this is the second action of its kind since a military operation was launched against the separatist movement.
Residents of Krueng Ceukou, Saunangan district, took several family members of suspected GAM members hostage earlier in the month, hoping to force rebels to release two teachers they were believed to have kidnapped.
The hostage-takers in Kuala district demanded the release of four residents -- Indra, 19, Khaerul Efendi, 40, Zulkifli, 18, and Katiman, 44 -- who are believed to have been kidnapped by GAM members.
After holding the 36 for some time, the villagers then handed them over to local Army officers.
It was not immediately clear whether any of the hostage-takers had been detained for questioning.
Meanwhile, four alleged GAM members opened fire on the house of Medan-based journalist Idris Jeumpa, 62, in Bangka Jaya, Krueng Geukeuh, near the Arun Gas plant, at about 7:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Idris survived the shooting, but his wife, Saodah, 52, was killed on the spot. Their daughter, Yusnia Oktiviani, 31, was wounded in the arm. All of them were taken to the Pupuk ASEAN hospital.
Idris, who is a former commander of the Gandapura Military, said on Sunday he believed the attackers were GAM members.
Earlier, three alleged members of GAM kidnapped M. Daud, 50, the village head of Blang Jambe, in Julok district. He was taken from his home in Seuneubok Tuha, East Aceh.
In Lhoksukon, North Aceh, GAM rebels conducted ID checks on civilians returning from working on irrigation canals for their farms in Bintang Hue district.
In Lapang village, Ganda Pura district, an attack by suspected GAM members on a store left the owner, Nurdin, 48, injured.
Separately, soldiers from Airborne Battalion 502 of the Army's Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) discovered a 50-meter high transmission tower believed to have been used by GAM in Aluee Mudik, North Aceh.
Although the military suspects the tower was used by GAM members in Aceh to communicate with members of the rebel group abroad, there are no immediate plans to bring the tower down given its strategic position for reconnaissance purposes.
In Kuta Baro, Aceh Besar district, Army infantry troops seized a car full of GAM communications equipment.
Teuku Umar Military Command head Col. Gerhan Lantara said the seizure of the equipment dealt a severe blow to GAM, as it would hinder its ability to communicate.
In Are, Delima district, Pidie, a joint Army and police combat team shot dead a GAM member in an exchange of gunfire. And in Kuala Sikai, Serui district, Aceh Tamiang, two members of the rebel group were killed in battle with TNI members.
The military also killed seven GAM rebels and seized six rifles and hundreds of rounds of ammunition in continuing action against the rebel group.