Banda Aceh – Clashes on Tuesday between Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatist rebels and security forces in the restive province of Aceh have left two civilians dead and 30 houses and shops damaged by fire, police and residents said on Wednesday.
The ambush of a security patrol by armed rebels in Meukek subdistrict in South Aceh on Tuesday resulted in the deaths of two civilians and left one police officer wounded, South Aceh deputy police chief Adj. Comr. Agus Mandarwanto said.
The two fatalities, including a female school teacher, were struck by stray bullets, residents said. They told local journalists that 30 houses and shops were set on fire during a police hunt for the attackers.
Officer Agus, however, denied that the fires were the handiwork of police and blamed it on GAM. "The [security] personnel did not light the fires. The fires broke out after the personnel had left the area," Agus said.
A second ambush took place in the South Aceh district of Sawang as the patrol was trying to take the injured policeman to the general hospital in the regency town of Tapaktuan, the officer said. There were no casualties reported in the incident.
A local GAM spokesman, Ayah Manggeng, claimed responsibility for the attacks but denied setting fire to the buildings.
More than 100 houses and shops were torched last weekend after security forces conducted a search in Samalanga subdistrict, Bireun district, following a clash with rebels in the area.
Separately, the Police's Cinta Meunasah II operation deputy spokesman Comr. Sudarsono said rebels ambushed a police patrol in Pidie regency on Tuesday, killing two officers. Second Brig. Jailani, 34, and First Brig. Zulkifli, 32, were killed during a rebel ambush at Banda Dua Police subprecinct in Pidie, while another officer, Chief Brig. Indra Rahmat, was injured.
GAM, which has been fighting Aceh's independence since 1976, was officially banned in March by the government, which had sent 1,100 fresh troops to the province. More than 400 people have been killed in Aceh this year.