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TITLE: Fresh Bout of Violence Kills Eight in Restive Aceh |
AUTHOR: |
PUB: The Jakarta Post |
DATE: May 13, 2001 |
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At least eight people, including two alleged rebels were killed as government troops stepped up sweeps against separatists in the strife-torn province of Aceh over the weekend, reports said. Spokesman of Police's Cinta Meunasah II Operation Adj. Sr. Comr. Sad Harunantyo said on Sunday that a series of gunfights between troops and rebels of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatists have took place in several places in Bireun regency on Saturday. The first series of rebel blitz took place at Keude Jeunib bridge in Pandrah village of Bireun regency. During that blitz, one of the attackers named Asbahul Rizal was shot dead during exchange of fire. The troops seized an AK-47 semiautomatic rifle, three magazines, seven bullets, a military-style cap and a handy talkie as evidence," the officer said as quoted by Antara. The second gunfight erupted in front of Jeunib bus terminal in Bireun round 5:30 p.m. Saturday, killing a man named Badruddin, the officer said.The news agency also reported that following a series of exchange of fires between rebels and the security forces from Friday to Saturday in Paya Raoh Teupin Raya area in Gleumpang Tiga district in Pidie regency, six men were found dead with gunshot wounds in the area. The six fatalities were identified as Ramli Salam (30), Amiruddin Affan (20), M. Adam Mat Jalil (27), Harun Hanafi (45), Ismail Usman (40) and Syafei Gade (40). Police, however, said they haven't received details of the incidents. The GAM rebel has been fighting for an independent state of Aceh since the mid-1970's, and calls for a referendum on self-determination have been fuelled by a decade of harsh military operations against the rebels. Meetings between the government and GAM in Geneva last year resulted in a series of truces, but they failed to stop the violence and last month the goevrnment declared GAM outlawed and sent 1,100 fresh troops to the province to hunt down the rebels. (edt) END |