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TITLE: Aceh Rebels Attack Military Post, Fuel Depot |
AUTHOR: |
PUB: The Jakarta Post |
DATE: March 12, 2001 |
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Free Aceh Movement (GAM) insurgents attacked the Panton Labu military post in North Aceh district and a fuel depot in Lhokseumawe, also in North Aceh, on Sunday morning, police said.North Aceh Police spokesman Adj. Comr. Adbi Darmawan said the rebel attack on the military post at about 10:00 a.m. prompted an exchange of fire that lasted about 45 minutes between GAM members and Army troops stationed at the post.Also on Sunday, the rebels launched a grenade attack on a fuel depot belonging to state oil and gas firm Pertamina at the village of Hagu Southwest, Banda Sakti subdistrict, Lhokseumawe. No casualties were reported in either incident. Meanwhile, the deputy spokesman for the police's Cinta Meunasah operation, Comr. Sudarsono, revealed on Sunday that the chief of the Peudada Subdistrict Police precinct, Bireun district, First Insp. Zainal Mahmud, had been missing since Thursday and it was feared that he had been taken hostage by the rebels.Sudarsono told Antara that Zainal celebrated the Idul Idha Islamic day of sacrifice in his hometown of Samalanga, together with his family. On Thursday, Zainal caught a public bus from his hometown to return to Peudada but, on the way, the bus was stopped by members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM). He was then reportedly taken hostage by the rebels. END |