INDONESIA: INDONESIA PREPARES JOINT SECURITY COUNCIL TROOPS FOR ATTACK ON REBELS IN ACHEH

Record ID: 647011

  • Title: INDONESIA: INDONESIA PREPARES JOINT SECURITY COUNCIL TROOPS FOR ATTACK ON REBELS IN ACHEH
  • Date: 13th May 2003
  • Summary: (W4) JAKARTA, INDONESIA (MAY 13, 2003) (REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS INDONESIA SECURITY MINISTER SUSILO BAMBANG YUDHOYONO GREETING JOINT SECURITY COUNCIL (JSC) MEMBERS (4 SHOTS) 0.21 2. PAN ACROSS MEMBERS STANDING IN A ROW 0.26 3. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) INDONESIA SECURITY MINISTER SUSILO BAMBANG YUDHOYONO, SAYING: "Indonesia government was hopeful that we were finally able to resolve the Aceh problems by bringing the conflict situation to an act and establishing a tranquil peace in Aceh. Sadly, our optimism has been diminishing day by day lately and reached the lowest point during the last few weeks." 0.52 4. SMV, JSC MEMBERS LISTENING 0.55 5. WIDE VIEW CHIEF OF JOINT SECURITY COMMITTEE MAJOR GENERAL TANONGSUK TUVINUN AT NEWS CONFERENCE 1.00 6. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHIEF OF JOINT SECURITY COMMITTEE MAJOR GENERAL TANONGSUK TUVINUN, SAYING: "Even though we go home for the time being, we might be able to return again as soon as the process resumes again. We still hope for peace in Aceh and that we still hope something could be done to achieve our common goal that has been set forth." 1.24 7. SMV OFFICERS LISTENING 1.29 8. CLOSE OF GAM LEADER WAHAB SURRENDER LETTER SHOWN TO PRESS 1.34 9. SMV AMRI BIN ABDUL WAHAB BEING PRESENTED TO PRESS 1.40 10. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) AMRI ABDUL WAHAB, SAYING: "I sincerely say that without any pressure from anyone or any party with my own conscience, I surrender myself to the Republic of Indonesia and I admit the integrity of Indonesia (audience applauding). I am ready to accept special autonomy and whatever I do from now on is for the interests of all Acehnese and not just for my own interest." 2.15 (W4) CENTRAL ACEH, INDONESIA (RECENT) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 11. WIDE OF NEWLY ARRIVED TROOPS ON PARADE 2.21 12. SLV TROOPS AT ATTENTION 2.25 13. CLOSE UP RIFLES 2.31 14. PAN UP TROOPS STANDING TO ATTENTION 2.36 15. WIDE OF TROOPS 2.40 16. VARIOUS TROOPS MARCHING FROM PARADE GROUND 3.03 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 28th May 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: JAKARTA AND CENTRAL ACEH, INDONESIA
  • Country: Indonesia
  • Reuters ID: LVA6TUU9OL4U64GYI6YJHX8ZL0DO
  • Story Text: Indonesia has moved closer to unleashing one of its
    biggest military assaults since the 1975 invasion of East
    Timor, after a deadline ran out for rebels in Aceh province to
    agree to new peace talks.



    Indonesia's Chief Security Minister bid farewell on
    Tuesday (May 13) to military commanders of the Joint Security
    Committee (JSC) who had been overseeing the ceasefire for the
    past five months.

    Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono thanked the Thai and Philippine
    Generals for their efforts in promoting the peace deal signed
    in December 2002 and stressed that peace in Aceh would always
    be handled within the framework of a unified Republic of
    Indonesia.

    "Indonesia government was hopeful that we were finally able
    to resolve the Aceh problems by bringing the conflict
    situation to an act and establishing a tranquil peace in Aceh.

    Sadly, our optimism has been diminishing day by day lately and
    reached the lowest point during the last few weeks," he said.

    Chief of the JSC, Thailand's Major General Tanongsuk
    Tuvinum was optimistic that their mission could be resumed in
    the near future.

    "Even though we are going home for the time being , we
    might be able to return again as soon as the process resumes.

    We still hope for peace in Aceh and that something could be
    done to achieve our common goal that has been set forth," he
    told a press conference.

    Meanwhile, in a public relations surprise for the
    government, a senior rebel commander defected.

    Amri bin Abdul Wahab, one of several regional separatist
    commanders, appeared at a news conference in Jakarta on
    Tuesday and said GAM should not fight for independence, partly
    because it had no international support for the struggle.

    "I sincerely say that without any pressure from anyone or
    any party...with my own conscience, I surrendered myself," he
    said to applause from security officials at the gathering.

    The Indonesia government said it would consult parliament
    on Thursday (May 15) over the planned Aceh operation. That is
    expected to be a formality as there has been broad support
    among legislators for re-igniting one of Asia's longest
    running separatist wars.

    Thousands of military reinforcements have been sent to the
    province in recent days bringing the total number of troops in
    the province to nearly 40 000.

    The decades-long conflict has killed more than 10,000
    people in the resource-rich province, most of them civilians.


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