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DATE=5/4/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=INDONESIA / ACEH PEACE DEAL (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-261966
BYLINE=PATRICIA NUNAN
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Indonesia's human rights minister says the 
government will sign a cease-fire next week with 
separatist rebels from northern Aceh province. 
Patricia Nunan reports from Jakarta, that if it 
is completed, the deal will be a major 
breakthrough for the government of Indonesian 
President Abdurrahman Wahid.
TEXT: Indonesian human rights minister Hasballah 
Saad says a memorandum of understanding is to be 
signed with Aceh rebels in Geneva next week. The 
main goal, Mr. Saad says is to put a stop to the 
violence in the restive northern province and for 
each side to put down its weapons.
Mr. Saad says government officials and  
representatives from the rebel "Free Aceh 
Movement" have met four times in the Swiss city 
in recent weeks to iron out the agreement. 
There was no comment about the plan from the 
"Free Aceh Movement." 
Earlier this week, Indonesian President 
Abdurrahman Wahid told reporters in Jakarta he 
knew nothing about the purported peace deal. He 
also refused to comment on whether he would sign 
any agreement with the rebels when he visits Aceh 
province later this month. 
Reaching an accord would be a breakthrough in 
relations between Jakarta and the "Free Aceh 
Movement."
Human rights groups say they suspect at least 200 
people have died in Aceh since February when 
Indonesian security forces undertook a mission to 
stamp out the "Free Aceh Movement." Human rights 
groups also say at least five thousand others 
have died or disappeared at the hands on
Indonesian troops in the government's 10-year 
operation to crush the separatists.
The "Free Aceh Movement" has been fighting for  
an independent state since the 1970's.  Indonesia 
is reluctant to let the province go, partly 
because it is rich in natural resources. It also 
fears that independence for Aceh would be a step 
towards the disintegration of the whole of 
Indonesia. 
President Wahid has made ending the unrest in 
Indonesia's breakaway provinces one of the main 
priorities of his government, which came to power 
last October.
Twenty-four Indonesian soldiers and one civilian 
are now on trial in Aceh in the province's first 
such human rights case. The group is accused of 
massacring at least 58 people in Aceh last July.  
The military says the deaths occurred in a gun-battle 
with the separatists.
NEB/PN/FC 
04-May-2000 04:36 AM EDT (04-May-2000 0836 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.