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Rights body says mass grave found in Indonesia`s Aceh
Jakarta, June 11: A mass grave has been found in Aceh province where Indonesian troops are battling separatist rebels, a state human rights investigator said today.
Jakarta, June 11: A mass grave has been found in Aceh province where Indonesian troops are battling separatist rebels, a state human rights investigator said today.
"That grave is confirmed, yes, but what happened, the number of victims and the witnesses hasn't yet been (confirmed)," M M Billah, of the Indonesian National
Commission on Human Rights (Komnas Ham) said.
"We will carry out an investigation," Billah said, estimating the grave contained dozens of bodies. "It's like that ...In one place," he said. Billah said that according to a report he received from Komnas Ham representatives in Aceh, the grave is located in Nisam sub-district close to the rebel stronghold of Bireuen where there has been intense military activity.
Komnas Ham's representatives in Aceh, who receive information from a variety of sources, first learned of the grave about two weeks ago, he said. Billah said rights investigators have not yet visited the scene but he hopes a Komnas Ham team travelling to Aceh next week from Jakarta will be able to investigate.
"We have a plan to visit and investigate, interview and question witnesses there," said Billah.
He heads a team devoted to monitoring rights abuses committed by either government forces or Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels during the current military operation which began on May 19. Bureau Report
"We will carry out an investigation," Billah said, estimating the grave contained dozens of bodies. "It's like that ...In one place," he said. Billah said that according to a report he received from Komnas Ham representatives in Aceh, the grave is located in Nisam sub-district close to the rebel stronghold of Bireuen where there has been intense military activity.
Komnas Ham's representatives in Aceh, who receive information from a variety of sources, first learned of the grave about two weeks ago, he said. Billah said rights investigators have not yet visited the scene but he hopes a Komnas Ham team travelling to Aceh next week from Jakarta will be able to investigate.
"We have a plan to visit and investigate, interview and question witnesses there," said Billah.
He heads a team devoted to monitoring rights abuses committed by either government forces or Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels during the current military operation which began on May 19. Bureau Report