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GAM urged to end violence in restive Aceh
National News - September 19, 2000
BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): A diplomat urged the Free Aceh Movement (GAM)
on Monday to end their campaign of violence and focus on joint
peaceful efforts with the government to resolve the Aceh problem.
The call was voiced by Indonesia's permanent representative to the
United Nations in Geneva, Nugroho Wisnumurti, after attending a
meeting with Aceh provincial leaders and local religious leaders here.
"The militaristic approach by GAM has oppressed the Acehnese in
general and will not solve the problem at all," he said, as quoted by
Antara.
On the other hand, Nugroho called on the government to take stern
action against those responsible for instigating the prolonged unrest
in Indonesia's westernmost province.
"Yet, such action should be taken in a way that ensures peace and
security," he said.
Nugroho, former director general for political affairs at the foreign
ministry, said he attended the meeting to gather information on the
condition in the restive province, which will be brought to the next
Joint Forum between the Indonesian government and GAM representatives
in Geneva.
The Indonesian government and GAM representatives signed a truce in
May, called the Humanitarian Pause, which expired on Sept. 2.
Nugroho said the Indonesian government had agreed to extend the truce
on the condition that GAM would end its campaign of violence.
GAM has been fighting for independence since 1976. The Indonesian
government will not tolerate independence in Aceh but is willing to
grant it broad autonomy.
The security condition in troubled Aceh remains tense as sporadic
clashes between security officers and armed rebels continue throughout
the province.
In a related development, thousands of residents of five villages in
Kemireu area, Aceh Besar regency, fled their homes to seek refuge in
the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque in Banda Aceh, some 30 kilometers east
of the regency.
Abdul Wahab, a refugee, said on Monday that some 400 people had
arrived safely at the mosque, while the remaining were blocked by
security personnel at the main entry to Banda Aceh.
"We left our villages to avoid the military operation, which has been
conducted since Sunday evening," he said.
Aceh Besar Police chief Supt. Sayed Hoesainy and Aceh Besar Regent
Sayuti Ismail were in the area and seen persuading the refugees to
return to their homes, saying that the security officers would not
harm them.
Wahab said the residents would return home once the military left
their villages.
Separately, police chief for the Cinta Meunasah (Love the Mosque)
operation Sr. Supt. Kusbini Imbar revealed that officers at the
Mutiara Military Command in Pidie regency apprehended two GAM members
after the two threw a grenade into the compound. The grenade exploded,
but no fatalities were reported in the incident.
The police identified the two as 30-year-old Bachtiar and 24-year-old
T. Ansar, both residents of Mutiara district in Pidie.
"We suspect that they are also responsible for throwing grenades at
several security posts in Pidie in the past," Kusbini said, adding
that the police would further investigate how the members obtained the
explosives.
Separately, Pidie Police chief Supt. Endang Emiqail Bagus said a bomb
exploded on Monday at a security community post in Dayah Panoh
village, Glumpang Tiga district, Pidie regency, when the military were
launching an operation.
Three military officers, who were standing near the post, died on the
spot. The police combed the area and questioned three residents, which
lead them to the perpetrators.
Earlier, on Sunday morning, eight officers were reportedly injured
when GAM members intercepted and attacked a security truck carrying
police and military personnel in Alue Drien village in Lhoksukon
district, North Aceh regency. (50/51/lup)
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