European Union ambassadors in Indonesia expressed their concern over recent violent incidents in Aceh, which included the killing of three people on Monday, a press statement from the EU's representative office in Indonesia said on Friday.

The EU is calling on the political parties and local authorities in Aceh to ensure that election campaigning is conducted in a peaceful and non-violent manner.

In its statement, the EU underlined the importance of maintaining Aceh's political and development achievements since the signing of the Helsinki Peace Agreement a decade ago, Antara news agency reported.

National Police chief Gen. Sutarman previously said that rivalry among local political parties had been behind Monday evening's shooting incident, which resulted in the deaths of three people. So far, no suspects have been arrested.

"We call upon people not to be easily provoked or persuaded by certain political factions to commit violence," he told newsmen at the Presidential Office in Jakarta on Wednesday.

The police were investigating the shooting and searching for the perpetrators, Sutarman clarified, adding that the Acehnese should exercise their political rights peacefully.

"Do not resort to violence or encourage others to commit violent acts, as that will only hurt the democratic process that we are building. The democracy that we expect is one that is free of violence," he reiterated.

Meanwhile, Aceh Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Gustav Leo said the three people killed in Monday's attack had been identified as Juwaini, 29; Azirawati, 28, and Junaiwi's 15-year-old son, Khairul Akbar.

The victims were riding in a Kijang Innova car, which had Aceh Party stickers on the outside. Their car, which was carrying 11 people at the time, was attacked while traveling on the Geulanggang Teungoh village road in Bireuen regency at 9 p.m. on Monday, he confirmed.

Besides killing three people, he said, the armed attackers also seriously injured Fakhrulrazi, 40, adding that all the victims came from the same family, who were taking another of their relatives, Hamidah, 60, to a traditional healer in Buket Tekuh, Kota Juang district in Bireuen.(***)

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