DATE=9/3/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=INDONESIA - ACEH (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-266085
BYLINE=PATRICIA NUNAN
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The Indonesian government and separatist rebels
in the northern province of Aceh have agreed to
temporarily extend the three-month ceasefire that came
to an end on Saturday -- until a more formal plan can
be arranged. As Patricia Nunan reports from Jakarta, a
new round of peace talks is expected to be held in
Switzerland later this month.
Text: In a joint statement, the Indonesian government
and rebels from the Free Aceh Movement stated that
they have agreed to extend the ceasefire in Aceh
province. The agreement to stop hostilities went into
affect on June 2nd. It was extended on Saturday -- the
day it expired.
The statement also said the two sides would meet in
mid-September in Geneva, Switzerland for a
continuation of peace talks.
Rebels from the Free Aceh Movement have been fighting
for independence since the 1970's. But they stepped up
their campaign since Indonesia granted independence to
East Timor last year.
Besides the rebels, many Acehnese now want the right
to hold an independence referendum, as East Timor had.
Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid has ruled out
the possibility of an independence vote. But he has
said that he would give the staunchly-Muslim province
of Aceh the right to vote on whether Islamic or
"sharia" law should be applied
there.
Mr. Wahid also promised a higher degree of autonomy to
Aceh and a handful of other outlying Indonesian
provinces with simmering separatist movements. The
plan would give the provinces more revenue from their
own natural resources, which many say has been
exploited by authorities in Jakarta.
Human rights groups have criticized the ceasefire in
Aceh as only serving a symbolic purpose. At least 60
people have been killed and 18 wounded since it went
into affect. There have been at least 15 significant
clashes between rebels and
Indonesian forces during the cessation of hostilities
and almost 500 buildings destroyed.
But that still marks a reduction in violence. At least
300 people were killed in Aceh this year in the five
months before the ceasefire went into affect. (Signed)
NEB/PN/PLM
03-Sep-2000 01:48 AM EDT (03-Sep-2000 0548 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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