Eutrusca
18-01-2005, 18:45
This may go a long way toward explaining why the Indonesian government wants all aid workers out of the country by the end of March:
Associated Press
January 18, 2005
GALLE, Sri Lanka [ excerpted ]
Militants with the Free Aceh Movement, commonly known by the acronym GAM, have been fighting for three decades to gain independence for Aceh - the northernmost province on Sumatra island.
Both sides have reported skirmishes since the disaster. The military has accused the rebels of trying to hijack aid, which the guerrillas deny.
Tengku Mucksalmina, an insurgent commander, said in an interview with the AP that rebels "would never ambush any convoy with aid" because they want the relief workers to stay.
"Our mothers, our wives, our children are victims from this tragedy," he said from his hideout on the edge of a jungle outside Banda Aceh.
"We ask them not to leave the Acehnese people who are suffering," he said of the aid groups.
Associated Press
January 18, 2005
GALLE, Sri Lanka [ excerpted ]
Militants with the Free Aceh Movement, commonly known by the acronym GAM, have been fighting for three decades to gain independence for Aceh - the northernmost province on Sumatra island.
Both sides have reported skirmishes since the disaster. The military has accused the rebels of trying to hijack aid, which the guerrillas deny.
Tengku Mucksalmina, an insurgent commander, said in an interview with the AP that rebels "would never ambush any convoy with aid" because they want the relief workers to stay.
"Our mothers, our wives, our children are victims from this tragedy," he said from his hideout on the edge of a jungle outside Banda Aceh.
"We ask them not to leave the Acehnese people who are suffering," he said of the aid groups.