69 Killed after Week of War in Aceh

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, May 26, 2003

69 Killed after Week of War in Aceh

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The death toll rose to 69 in Indonesian government's war against the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), with two rebels and one soldier killed on Sunday, since the campaign began last Monday, the daily Jakarta Post reported Monday.

In the provincial capital Banda Aceh, the police authorities announced on Sunday that they had arrested 17 people, including 12 student activists, for their alleged involvement in the separatist movement.

Meanwhile, the military authorities said the Aceh administration would issue new ID cards for Acehnese to differentiate them with GAM rebels.

Soldiers patrolling Paranggui village in the GAM stronghold of Bireuen regency killed two GAM members as they attempted to flee on a motorcycle on Sunday.

Platoon commander Second Lt. Suprapto said the two rebels had been wanted so "we tried to stop them when we accidentally bumped into them."

Soldiers found two weapons, ammunition and a grenade on the twobodies, which were taken away by the Indonesian Red Cross in Bireuen.

Another clash between the Indonesian Military (TNI) and GAM rebels took place on Sunday when about 30 rebels ambushed a military convoy near Bayi in North Aceh. At least two soldiers were injured in the battle, which lasted for about 30 minutes.

A fierce two-hour gunfight took place in Dewantara district, North Aceh, killing one soldier.

Late Saturday night, an explosion took place near the Peusong traditional market, some 700 meters from the Military Operation Command in Lhokseumawe, barely two hours after a grenade was thrown into a police office in the town.

On Sunday morning, the Air Force continued its air campaign in North Aceh.

According to Aceh Operations Commander Brig. Gen. Bambang Darmono, the bombings were aimed at "giving shock therapy" to GAM rebels believed to be hiding among the locals.

In Banda Aceh, police said they arrested 12 students in a crackdown on separatist supporters.

Aceh Police spokesman Sayed Husainy said the 12 students from the State Institute for Religious Sciences were arrested late on Saturday along with five others.

Sayed also said that non-governmental organizations, "which claim to defend human rights," would be monitored.

Also on Sunday, a group of civilians hacked three rebels to death with machetes when they attempted to enter their village of Wim Pesam in Central Aceh, Col. Ditya Sudarsono, a military spokesman, said.

Since the offensive was launched on May 19, a total of 69 people reportedly have been killed. These casualties consist of 65rebels, three government soldiers and one policeman. The Indonesian Red Cross, however, has said that it has recovered between 70 and 80 corpses in the province.

Independent verification of these numbers is impossible becauseinternational monitors left the province after a peace agreement signed in December 2002 collapsed in mid-May. More than 20,000 Acehnese have fled their homes, seeking refuge in mosques and schools.

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