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TITLE: GAM Critical of Army, Police Field Commanders |
AUTHOR: |
PUB: BBC Summary |
DATE: February 21, 2001 |
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Bisnis Indonesia web site, Jakarta, in Indonesian 20 Feb 01; Tempo Interaktif web site, Jakarta, in Indonesian 20 Feb 01 - GAM asks army, police to control their troops; Army chief denies military repression; Clashes reported in North Aceh; The 19 and 20 February editions of Indonesian-language Internet media reported the latest news from Aceh. The 19 February edition of the Banda Aceh-based daily Serambi reported that GAM (Free Aceh Movement) Operations Staff Officer in the Tiro Centre Teungku Amri Bin Abdul Wahab (a GAM signatory to the agreement) has asked the police and TNI (Indonesian National Military Forces) field commanders to control their troops, because during the period of their agreement to stop violence between 10 and 18 February, 10 villagers were killed and 10 more critically wounded. He said that of 18 people arrested by security forces, only one had been released, and four others had been found dead, their bodies in a distressing state. He said that GAM noted 35 people had been beaten up, 17 homes burnt down plus 35 motor cycles and gold and cash was stolen from residents."These gross violations show that Indonesia's field commanders have no control over their subordinates while GAM has honoured the agreement by putting a stop to all attacks on security forces posts and their convoys," said Amri. The 20 February edition of the Jakarta-based daily Bisnis Indonesia reported comments by TNI Commander Admiral Widodo that there was no repressive military operation in Aceh. At a hearing with Commission I of the DPR (House of Representatives) in Jakarta on 19 February, Widodo said: "There is no repressive offensive operation. However, if there is an attack, then yes, the security forces are obliged to respond proportionally."Widodo said that the security strategy for Aceh was firstly to be consistent in enforcing the law and secondly to respond proportionally to any threats or attacks. He added that the Aceh problems were not going to be resolved on security issues alone. "There are other aspects which really must be moved along. Regional autonomy and development must be expedited and all of the social issues must be addressed and managed," he stressed. The 20 February edition of Jakarta based on-line daily Tempo Interaktif reported two violent incidents. On Monday 19 February, two members from the North Aceh Air and Water Police unit fought with three GAM rebels on the beach at Pusong Baru, Lhokseumawe. North Aceh police chief Assistant Senior Commissioner Wanto Sumardi said that the two policemen were cutting grass next to the beach when three men approached them and pulled out a pistol. One of the rebels tried to fire the pistol but it jammed and failed and an unarmed fight ensued. The GAM members then broke away and ran into a populated area. Police recovered an old Walter 32 calibre pistol and two rounds of ammunition. The same item also covered a raid by a gang of about 20 armed men, alleged to be GAM members, on the transmigrant village of Sureukey on Sunday (18 February). Four villagers suffered stab wounds in the raid and two homes were burnt. END |