Dwi Wiyana, Bandung – Army Chief General Djoko Santoso said the TNI (armed forces) duties’ are to safeguard the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Aceh. But he said if the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) continues to create disturbances armed clashes can’t be avoided.

“That’s the logic of it”, Santoso told journalists at the army’s infantry headquarters in Bandung on Monday June 6.

Since the civil emergency in Aceh was replaced with a state of civil authority on May 19, armed clashes between GAM and the TNI have continued. GAM has accused the TNI of not being interested in creating peace.

Santoso confessed that while the army provides troops for duties in Aceh, the operation is conducted under the control of TNI headquarters.

[Translated by Risna.]