LAKSAMANA.Net, November 6, 2004 07:57 AM
More Killings in Aceh
Laksamana.Net - The Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) says soldiers have killed five
separatist rebels in the latest violence in Aceh province, where a massive offensive
against guerrillas shows no signs of abating.
Aceh military spokesman Ari Mulya Asnawi was quoted by Agence France-Presse as
saying the members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) were killed in separate
clashes in Pidie district on Thursday, while 10 others had surrendered or been
captured.
He also said troops found three automatic weapons and 200 rounds of ammunition
buried by GAM members at Pante Lhung village in Bireuen district.
At least 35 alleged rebels and one soldier were killed in the province in clashes over
last four days of October.
The government on May 19, 2003, placed Aceh under martial law and launched a
huge military campaign to eradicate the rebels. Since then, TNI claims to have killed
more than 2,300 separatists, but human rights activists say many of the casualties
were innocent civilians.
The martial law status was changed to state of civil emergency in May 2004, but the
killings have continued, as well as reports of human rights abuses perpetrated by
state security forces with virtual impunity.
Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Widodo Adisutjipto this
week visited Aceh to decide whether the civil emergency status should be extended
when it expires on November 19.
He claimed there are still about 2,500 GAM members armed with approximately 850
weapons.
That’s quite an increase from May, when TNI commander General Endriartono
Sutarto said there were only about 1,500 rebels still at large.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has pledged to end the Aceh conflict, but it
remains to be seen whether he will continue to pursue the deadly military solution.
Yudhoyono had helped to broker a truce in Aceh under former president Megawati
Sukarnoputri, but the ceasefire broke down after five months and was abandoned.
Aceh has 13 legislators in the national parliament formed last month. Most of them
have called on the government to end the civil emergency and pursue a peaceful
solution to the conflict, but their voices may drowned out by other legislators.
Copyright © 2000 - 2004 Laksamana.net, All Rights Reserved.
|