Police claim victory over terrorists in Aceh

Jakarta | Fri, 03/12/2010 7:35 PM

Aceh Police chief Insp. Gen. Adityawarman said Friday security authorities had restored order in Lamkabeu village in the Aceh regency of Aceh Besar after almost two weeks of crackdowns on suspected terrorists there.

Adityawarman said local residents, who were mostly farmers, could resume their activity after the police lifted the blockade of access to their rice fields. During the police hunt for terror suspects, the farmers stayed at home despite the arrival of harvest time.

“Lamkabeu is already clean and people can continue their activities,” Adityawarman told a media conference.

The police gunned down two terror suspects and arrested eight others in the final strike Friday that completed the onslaught of the terror group that is believed to set sight on building a new base for the Southeast Asia terror network. The police also seized three M 16 and two AK 47 assault rifles, a Glock pistol, bullet caches and bank notes.

Altogether, four terror suspects were shot dead and 31 others arrested during the operation, which involved the Mobile Brigade police strike force, counterterrorism squad and local police. Three police officers and two civilians were also killed.

At about the same time the counterterrorism squad raided two places in Pamulang in South Tangerang, killing long-time fugitive Dulmatin and two of his guards and arrested several others. It was unveiled later the suspected terrorists in Pamulang supplied weapons and funding to the Aceh terror group.