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DATE=5/4/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248925
TITLE=INDONESIA/ ACEH (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JENNY GRANT
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  
INTRO: THE HEAD OF THE INDONESIAN MILITARY HAS PROMISED A FULL 
INVESTIGATION INTO THE KILLING OF 23 CIVILIANS BY SOLDIERS IN THE
PROVINCE OF ACEH.  FROM JAKARTA, JENNY GRANT REPORTS A HEAVY 
MILITARY PRESENCE PATROLLED THE TOWN IN NORTHWESTERN INDONESIA, 
WHERE THE SHOOTINGS TOOK PLACE.
TEXT: GENERAL WIRANTO TOLD JAKARTA'S SUARA PEMBARUAN AFTERNOON 
NEWSPAPER HE REGRETS THE SHOOTING, WHICH TOOK PLACE ON MONDAY IN 
PULO RUNGKOM VILLAGE, SOME 1600 KILOMETERS NORTH WEST OF JAKARTA.
HE IS QUOTED AS PROMISING TO FULLY INVESTIGATE THE INCIDENT.
THE TROUBLE BEGAN WHEN TROOPS ARRIVED TO SEARCH FOR TWO MILITARY 
INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS WHO HAD BEEN TAKEN HOSTAGE BY RESIDENTS OF 
THE TOWN LAST WEEK.  WITNESSES SAY THE SOLDIERS OPENED FIRE WITH 
LIVE ROUNDS INTO A CROWD OF THOUSANDS OF UNARMED CIVILIANS WHO 
TRIED TO BLOCK THEIR ENTRY INTO THE RESIDENTIAL AREA
A STATEMENT FROM THE INDONESIAN MILITARY INFORMATION CENTER 
DISPUTES THAT ACCOUNT, SAYING PEOPLE IN THE CROWD FIRED FIRST AT 
THE SOLDIERS.
RESIDENTS SAY HUNDREDS OF ARMED TROOPS PATROLLED THE STREETS OF 
PULO RUNGKOM AND NEARBY LHOKSEUMAWE ON TUESDAY. MILITARY 
HELICOPTERS FLEW OVER THE AREA.
THE MILITARY SAYS IT IS STILL SEARCHING FOR THE TWO KIDNAPPED 
INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS.
ACEH WAS DECLARED A MILITARY OPERATION AREA IN THE EARLY 1990S 
WHEN THOUSANDS OF SPECIAL FORCES TROOPS WERE BROUGHT IN TO BREAK 
UP THE FREE ACEH MOVEMENT REBELS.
THE MILITARY WITHDREW THE TROOPS AND ENDED THE SPECIAL MILITARY 
OPERATION LAST AUGUST.
GENERAL WIRANTO AND PRESIDENT HABIBIE HAVE BOTH APOLOGIZED TO THE
ACEHNESE PEOPLE FOR YEARS OF MILITARY BRUTALITY.
PRO INDEPENDENCE ELEMENTS IN ACEH ARE TRYING TO CONVINCE LOCAL 
RESIDENTS TO BOYCOTT THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS ON JUNE 7TH.  THEY 
SAY ACEHNESE SHOULD VOTE ON A REFERENDUM FOR INDEPENDENCE AND  
NOT PARTICIPATE IN AN INDONESIAN  NATIONAL ELECTION.  (SIGNED) 
NEB/JG/FC/KL
04-May-99 7:26 AM EDT (1126 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.