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Indonesia holiday marred by violence

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Associated Press - August 17, 1999

Slobodan Lekic, Jakarta – Indonesia's independence day was marred today by clashes between pro-democracy protesters and riot police in Jakarta, the strafing of East Timor's separatist movement's headquarters and reports that five people were killed in strife-torn Aceh province.

The bodies of four civilians were found Monday in Jamoaye district in North Aceh, 1,100 miles northwest of Jakarta. All had their throats slit, Jacob Hamzah, leader of a local human rights group, said today. Hamzah said the four men had been abducted early Monday by about 30 armed men in military uniforms in Ulee Gle village.

Meanwhile, in nearby South Aceh, an unidentified gunman shot a soldier to death early today, witnesses said. Later in the day, secessionists fired on a military post in North Aceh, wounding at least seven marines, the official Antara news agency reported.

The violence came as Indonesia celebrated its 54th independence anniversary. The archipelago nation declared independence from Dutch colonial rule August 17, 1945.

In East Timor, unidentified gunmen opened fire on the offices of the region's main pro-independence group at dawn today, just hours before die-hard loyalists gathered for what could be the last Indonesian national day celebration in the territory.

No injuries were reported in the attacks on two buildings housing the offices of the National Council for Timorese Resistance. The group blamed anti-independence militiaman for the attack.

One office, located in the city's waterfront area, was the site of Sunday's rally by thousands of pro-independence supporters that kicked off their campaign for the Aug. 30 ballot on whether East Timor should become independent or remain part of Indonesia.

Though many predict the former Portuguese colony, which Indonesia invaded in 1975, will opt for independence, Gov. Abilio Jose Osario Soares disagreed. "This will not be the last independence ceremony," he told some 1,000 members of the military, police and civil guards.

Indonesia celebrated its anniversary by granting remissions to hundreds of prisoners across the country. Among them was imprisoned East Timor guerrilla commander Jose Alexandre 'Xanana' Gusmao, whose 20-year sentence was slashed by five months. The gesture was symbolic as Indonesia has promised to release Gusmao from house arrest in Jakarta after the independence ballot.

The festivities in Jakarta included a military pageant at the presidential palace. However, hundreds of students blocked a busy road after police stopped them from marching on parliament. Many lay down on the pavement and refused to disperse. Other students were injured in a scuffle with police outside the national electoral office.

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