Violence in Aceh claims 16 lives

Violence in Aceh claims 16 lives

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Violence in Aceh claimed another 16
lives over the weekend as separatist rebels upped the ante by
threatening to eject non-Acehnese from the province if the
government goes ahead with plans to launch a limited military
operation.

Free Aceh Movement (GAM) spokesman Abu Sofyan Daud did not
mince words on Sunday in Lhokseumawe, North Aceh: "Once such a
military operation is imposed, we are no longer responsible for
the safety of non-Acehnese."

Speaking to journalists, he warned that GAM would retaliate by
imposing a state of civil emergency "in which one of its central
points would be to expel all non-Acehnese from Tanah Rencong
(Aceh)."

There was no immediate information on how many "non-Achenese"
live in the province.

After months of negotiations which included the signing of a
humanitarian pause and a month-long moratorium on violence, the
government has announced it will get tough on rebels in the
province by launching a limited military operation.

There are currently 30,000 military personnel stationed in
Aceh.

The government's announcement comes at a time when the
security situation has continued to deteriorate in the province.

American-based oil and gas company ExxonMobil Corp. suspended
operations in Aceh due to security threats.

Tight security cordons were seen around the empty compounds of
ExxonMobil Oil Indonesia and PT Arun LNG in North Aceh on Sunday.

Locals said almost all employees have left the area. The Bukit
Indah housing complex where the employees reside is nearly empty.

"It is in the best interests of all related parties that the
abandoned company assets be guarded, because the last thing we
need is for GAM to occupy it," the deputy spokesman of the
police's Cinta Meunasah II operation, Comr. Sudarsono, told The
Jakarta Post by telephone.

Bloodshed

While it was quiet in some areas, blood continued to be
spilled in other parts of Aceh.

Security officers claimed on Saturday that seven people were
killed by rebels in two locations in East Aceh.

They said four civilians were shot dead in Sungai Raya village
in Rantau Selamat district.

Another three, identified as Guntur, Hakim and Midun, were
allegedly shot by rebels on the Afdeling IV palm oil plantation
in Seunebok, East Aceh.

There were also unconfirmed reports that a 16-year-old boy,
identified as Zakaria, was shot dead on Sunday in West Langsa,
East Aceh. There were no details of this shooting.

Meanwhile in Blang Reuling village, North Aceh, a civilian was
killed when a group of marines were ambushed by armed rebels on
Saturday.

"Three people, including one marine officer, were injured in
the attack," North Aceh Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Wanto Sumardi
said.

In Aceh Besar, three suspected GAM rebels were shot dead by
police during a raid in Blang Krueng village, Darussalam
subdistrict, on Saturday, said Aceh Besar Police chief Adj. Sr.
Comr. Sayed Husaini.

More civilians were reported killed in the cross fire as
security forces conducted an operation to locate a GAM base in
Kluet Utara district, South Aceh.

A young man, a woman and two children were reportedly killed
in the incident.

In stark contrast to this latest violence, the Joint Committee
for Security Affairs, comprising field commanders from GAM rebels
and government troops, agreed on Sunday to declare North Aceh and
Bireun "security zones".

"The two regencies are troubled with a relative high amount of
violence," a representative from the military, Col. Ridwan Karim,
told journalists at Hotel Kuala Tripa here on Sunday evening. He
was accompanied by GAM representative Tengku Nashiruddin.

"Therefore both sides have agreed to select these two
regencies for a pilot peace project for a period of 13 days. And
if it works, we may establish another security zone in another
regency," he said.

The agreement was reached after three days of meetings which
ended on Sunday.

Both sides are scheduled to meet again on March 31.

"During this meeting, we did not discuss the planned limited
military operation in Aceh. We believe the government is still
committed to solving Aceh's problems through dialog," Ridwan
said. (edt/50)