Indonesian troops have killed 15 separatist rebels in Aceh province as a major military operation entered its 55th day, the military said. Military spokesman Colonel Ditya Sudarsono was quoted by the state Antara news agency as saying the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) guerrillas were killed in eight separate gunfights. Col Sudarsono said a total of 432 GAM rebels have been killed since the start of the operation on May 19. The death toll for soldiers stands at 31.
Meanwhile, military prosecutors in the province sought a four-year jail sentence for one of three soldiers on trial for raping four Acehnese women. The offence carries a maximum sentence of 12 years in prison. Prosecutors said the alleged actions had tarnished the military's reputation. The two other defendants are on trial separately.
| Kinda hard to tarnish the reputation of the Indonesian army... |
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