GAM rebels again attack ExxonMobil as tension escalates

The Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels again attacked a Police Mobile Brigade post at ExxonMobil gas fields on Monday night as armed conflicts between the rebels and the government's security force worsened, Media Indonesia reported on Wednesday.

At least three members of the security forces were injured during the serial attacks which hit the security forces at the oil and gas giant's gas fields and gas installation facilities at the Blang Jruen, some 35 kilometers from Lhokseumawe,

The deputy chief of the GAM at Pasee, Sofyan Daud said that the attack was launched in return of similar attacks made by the govt security members against the Acehnese. He also warned ExxonMobil to end its security contract with the government's security force.

"If ExxonMobil wants to continue to operate, it should end all the security deals it has with the government's security forces," he added.

The serial attack began on Sunday when the GAM rebels launched a grenade assault against the security forces at ExxonMobil facilities at the Meunasah Tutong gas area.

Meanwhile, A. Sidick Nitikusuma, spokesman for Pertamina's foreign contractors management body (BPPKA), told Petromindo on Wednesday morning that the security force had been posted in ExxonMobil since 1978 as part of the government's arrangement to secure all strategic industries, including oil and gas facilities, in the province.

All the gas and oil facilities in the area are legally owned by state oil and gas company Pertamina and that all the security arrangements in the area where handled by Pertamina, not by ExxonMobil or other companies, he said. (*)