17 reported dead in Indonesian violence

Jakarta - In the latest political violence in Indonesia, the army shot and killed at least 17 people in the western province …

Jakarta - In the latest political violence in Indonesia, the army shot and killed at least 17 people in the western province of Aceh yesterday, according to reports from the region, Conor O'Clery reports.

More than 100 people were wounded in the incident just north of Lhokseumawe, which occurred during a mass demonstration against military violence, hospital officials said. The violence in Aceh, where an independence movement is seeking to break from Jakarta, coincides with a strong warning from Indonesian armed forces chief, Gen Wiranto, against federalism as a way of resolving political turmoil in the archipelago. The Indonesian parliament two weeks ago passed autonomy bills giving greater local control, but last week a major opposition figure, Mr Amien Rais, said Indonesia must be open to federalism. The latest violence in Aceh had its roots in the disappearance of two army intelligence officials last week when around 10,000 people gathered at a mosque to support the Free Aceh Movement. Crowds gathered yesterday to protest about violence during house-to-house searches by soldiers seeking the two missing men. Troops opened fire after an exchange of stone throwing, the Reuters news agency reported.

In a separate incident in the central Java town of Jepara, four people were killed and 14 reported missing after a fight involving supporters of rival Muslim parties campaigning for parliamentary elections on June 7th, the PKB (Nation Awakening Party) and the PPP (United Development Party). Meanwhile Indonesian Justice Minister, Mr Muladi, said yesterday he backed an amnesty for East Timorese guerrilla leader Xanana Gusmao, who is under house arrest in Jakarta, to enable him to take part fully in discussions on the future of the former Portuguese colony. But Mr Muladi said he had received no instruction to that effect from the government.