(AKI/Jakarta Post) - Anti-terrorism police in the Muslim-devout Indonesian province of Aceh are probing the bombing of former Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebel leader Muzakkir Manaf's house early on Tuesday. "We are still investigating and checking the type of grenade used," head of the Darussalam Special Detachment anti terror squad, Sutry Hamdani, was quoted as telling Indonesian news agency Antara in Aceh Besar on Tuesday. An unidentified bomber reportedly bombed the house of Muzakkir Manaf, shattering the front window and damaging his car, a Nissan X-Trail 4x4. A witness, Tarmizi, said Manaf and his family were in Lhokseumawe, 270-kilometers away from Aceh, at the time of the attack.
Manaf is also the chairman of the Aceh Party. Aceh Party spokesman Adnan Beuransah said he did not know of any frictions rising between the party and other parties. "We truly regret the attack as it shows there are certain individuals unhappy with the peace. We will report the incident to the Regional Police, Interpeace, the European Union and the Communication and Coordination Forum (FKK)," he said.
GAM reached a landmark peace accord with the Indonesian government in mid-August 2005, ending a 30-year secessionist war in Aceh that killed an estimated 15,000 people. GAM members were elected to most of the political posts in local elections held last December. A spate of bombings in Banda Aceh in 2007 however raised fresh concern about political instability in the province.