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Eleven Killed in Clashes in Aceh, Indonesia
At least 11 persons were killed in two incidents in eastern Aceh, Indonesia, the Antara News Agency Friday quoted military officers as saying.
Six of the fatalities were killed on Wednesday allegedly by members of the Nurdin group of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), while the other five, allegedly GAM members, were killed in an encounter with the police on the same day.
The second incident occurred in Teuping Jareng village, also in eastern Aceh, when policemen on patrol were ambushed by GAM members on Thursday.
GAM, a main group of separatist movement in Aceh, has been fighting for a free Islamic state since mid 1970s. Thousands of people have been killed during the clashes between the government troops and the Acehnese rebels.
Meanwhile, Defense Minister Mahfud M.D. told reporters here on Friday that the government will discuss ways to respond to the growing separatist movement in Aceh during its cabinet meeting on Monday.
He said the government is giving priority to dialogues in efforts to settle the Aceh crisis.
However, the government will take stern measures, if the dialogues fail to produce results, he warned.
Despite the cease-fire agreement reached by the government and leaders of the GAM, violence has continued in the province.
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