Banda Aceh – Indonesia's military reported increased rebel casualties in Aceh province yesterday but admitted that troops were having a tough time confronting highly mobile guerillas who blended into the population.
Despite this, troops had killed 81 separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels and arrested 22 others as fighting entered the 10th day, military spokesman Yani Basuki said.
Four soldiers and two paramilitary policemen were killed while dozens of rebels had surrendered, he said. "We're continuing to hunt them until their strength is destroyed," he said.
Lt-Col Basuki said troops had detected GAM strongholds but the rebels were not wearing uniforms and were blending into the population. "They are highly mobile. Besides, they are not wearing uniforms so it's difficult to distinguish them from ordinary civilians," he said.
Soldiers had been ordered not to use their weapons in situations where rebels were mingling with civilians, he said, to prevent the killing of innocent people.
The fight against rebels is not confined to the jungle. Jakarta has started the legal process of prosecuting 18 alleged GAM members for treason and terrorism. The move is part of the government's integrated operations to root out separatism.
The members, who were arrested by the security authorities, include five GAM negotiators from the aborted peace talks with the government.
Considered the core members of the separatist group, the five will be charged with treason and terrorism under a new anti-terrorism law for allegedly being involved in a number of bombing cases. If convicted, they could receive the death penalty. The remaining GAM members will be charged with treason under the Criminal Code.
As the fighting escalated yesterday, foreign aid workers in Aceh were advised by the government to leave the province. Security concerns were cited. The government said that while foreign aid was welcome, it should be channelled through Indonesian aid agencies.
However, the staff of foreign aid groups such as Cardi, London-based Oxfam International and Save the Children remained in Aceh yesterday. "If our headquarters in Jakarta ask us to leave, we will," said one of the aid workers.
Seventeen tonnes of medicine donated by the World Health Organisation and the UN Children's Fund have arrived in the provincial capital of Banda Aceh. "The emergency health kits will be enough to cater for 200,000 people for three months," said Mr Cut Idawani of the provincial health office.