Lhokseumawe – A crowd of thousands held a Free Aceh gathering and feast at the village of Cot Plieng, Blang Mangat sub-district, North Aceh on Sunday night (25th-26th April). At the same time, a crowd burned two buses belonging to Mobil Oil Indonesia at Alue Liem in the same area.

The gathering was attended by prominent figures and sympathisers of the Free Aceh movement, and local residents. The activities blocked the main Banda Aceh-Medan highway between Bayu and Punteuet.

Ten cows were butchered for the occasion, and people were invited to attend from other sub-districts in the area. Free Aceh members held a similar gathering in Banda Masen, Banda Sakti sub-district, Lhokseumawe, last night. There were no incidents.

Meanwhile, at around 1730 local time, a crowd stopped and burned two Mobil Oil buses (without passengers) on the pipeline road, near the plantation of former North Aceh District head Karimuddin Hasybullah...

That morning, Mobil Oil had contributed several tanker loads of clean water for the feast. Waspada reporters noted students writing graffiti – the word "referendum" – on the roads at Birem Bayeuen, Langsa Barat, East Aceh.

North Aceh police confirmed the [burning of the two buses] but could not establish a motive. However, another source said that the culprits were probably drivers who had unsuccessfully sought employment with the company.

North Aceh police planned to begin on Monday (26th April) a total clean-up of all banners, images and billboards containing the flag or any mention of the Free Aceh movement.