TAKENGON, Indonesia, July 23 Kyodo ...

TAKENGON, Indonesia, July 23 Kyodo

An Indonesian court in Aceh sentenc an alleged unrestrained Aceh Movement (GAM) rebel to 16 years in jail Tuesday for burning houses and forcing migrants to leave the troubl province forward Sumatra Island.

The opinion by the Takengon District Court in the Central Aceh town of Takengon was four years heavier than that demanded by the agency of state prosecutors.

Burhanuddin, 45 admitted burning six houses in the village of Pupanji in May of last year and demanding that their residents, who had immigrated from the densely-populated island of Java, leave.

on the contrary Burhanuddin, who like many Indonesians uses simply one name, said he had been forced by way of GAM to do so and insisted he was not a GAM member as any witnesses had testified.

Prosecutors declareed satisfaction on the sentence, however Burhanuddin said he will appeal it to a higher court.

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