TNI ready to help secure Aceh after shooting spree
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 01/03/2012 9:58 PM
Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Adm. Agus Suhartono says that the military is prepared to help the police maintain security in Aceh following the deaths of four people who were shot in two different locations in the province on New Year’s Eve.
“We are always ready to back up the police, whenever needed,” Agus said Tuesday at the Presidential Office as quoted by Antara news agency.
He said, however, that the TNI had not yet planned to add more personnel in the province ahead of the Aceh gubernatorial election in February.
“The number of soldiers currently in Aceh is sufficient. This is a special region so I have to be really careful when making decisions about deploying more personnel,” he said.
Four people were killed by gunfire in Aceh on the last day of 2011. The first shooting incident took place in Ule Kareng, Banda Aceh, with the victim identified as Wagino, a doll shop attendant.
The second shootings occurred in Bireuen regency, about 250 kilometers east of Banda Aceh. Suparno, 31, Daud, 30 and Sunyoto, 28, all from towns in East Java, were killed in the incident. (swd)
