LAST Thursday morning, two Bronco OV-10 warplanes suddenly appeared low over the town of Lhokseumawe, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, engines roaring. Most of the inhabitants of the oil town on the North Aceh coast were working or strolling along the streets.

When the two planes came lower, some people started to panic. Some put their hands over their ears; others screamed hysterically. On Jalan Merdeka, at the junction near the Bank Tabungan Negara bui