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10 Killed in Fresh Outbreak of Violence in Aceh, Indonesia
At least 10 people were killed in the latest outbreak of violence on Thursday and Friday in Indonesia's restive province of Aceh, the online Jakarta Post.com quoted officials and humanitarian activists as saying on Friday.
Security forces were reportedly launching intensive sweeping operations in Aceh area ahead of Indonesia's 56th anniversary of independence on August 17, targeting sites believed to be Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatist rebel bases.
The rebels also threatened to put up a fight against the security forces' attacks on the separatist movement by launching attacks on police and military bases.
Violence has continued to rage in Aceh this year with at least 1,000 people having been killed in the resource-rich province. A series of truces between the GAM and the Indonesian government failed to curtail the violence.
The new government of President Megawati Soekarnoputri is expected to attempt to stop the bloodshed by moving forward with a proposals for the province involving the endorsement of special autonomy status under the new Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam law.
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