President: no GAM element involved in Aceh terror

SBY PRESIDENCY

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Friday no element of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) was involved in terrorist activity in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam province.

"They are real terrorists who have organized themselves neatly, chosen a training ground in Aceh as people no longer considered Aceh a conflict region," he said at a limited cabinet meeting on political, security and legal affairs at the presidential office.

The head of state said certain quarters wanted Indonesia to be unattentive so that they could prepare everything to commit terrorist acts.

"I appreciate the political, legal and security ranks and files particularly police with the help of the others for their operations to combat terrorism or terrorism cells in Aceh," he said.

He asked all relevant parties, including district heads, mayors, ulemas, social figures and security agencies in Aceh to establish close cooperation.

"Tell the people that this is terrorist cell and element. I have received a report that its leaders are not the people of Aceh and some of its members come from outside Aceh," he said.

A joint team of Densus 88 and Aceh police members has arrested a number of people allegedly linked to terrorism in Jalin hills in the subdistrict of Jantho, Aceh Besar district, since their operations as of February 20.

The police have confiscated from them rifles, 24 rounds of ammunition and a grenade
as well as military uniforms and attributes and a number of documents.

National Police Chief General Bambang Hendarso Danuri told the press after the meeting police were still pursuing at least 30 people suspected of involvement in the terrorist network.

The Indonesian government and GAM signed a peace deal in Helsinki, Finland, in August 2005 to put an end to a three-decade bloody conflict in the country`s western-most province.(ANTARA News)

BERITA LAINNYA: