Military

DATE=11/10/00

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=INDONESIA ACEH

BYLINE=PATRICIA NUNAN

DATELINE=JAKARTA

NUMBER=2-269077

INTERNET=YES

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid has accused renegade soldiers of trying to stir up trouble in the northern province of Aceh - where as many as 22 people have died in the days before a massive independence rally planned for Saturday. VOA's Patricia Nunan reports hundreds of thousands of people are converging on Aceh's capital for a two-day pro-independence demonstration. .

Text: Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid says the shootings in Aceh were carried out by former members of the Indonesian Army - who still wear their official military uniforms. He accused what he described as "rogue soldiers" of deliberately stirring up trouble.

Independence organizations say more than 24 people have died in clashes at roadblocks set up by Indonesian troops

across the province. The troops were trying to prevent independence supporters from gathering at the provincial capital, Banda Aceh-- for a massive independence rally.

Indonesia's National Police spokesman Saleh Saaf says the number of dead reported by independence organizers is an exaggeration. He says there are no more than 14 people killed. Local military officials also maintain that soldiers only fired their weapons in self-defense.

Despite the violence, more than 100-thousand demonstrators have already arrived in Banda Aceh. Rally organizers intend to call on the United Nations to supervise an independence referendum for Aceh province - much like the one that allowed East Timor to break free of Indonesia last year.

President Wahid has said there is no way he would allow the Acehnese to hold an independence vote. Many top officials fear that if Aceh were allowed to break free, Indonesia would disintegrate.

The staunchly Muslim province of Aceh is located on the northern tip of Sumatra island. Rebels from the "Free Aceh Movement"

have been fighting for independence from Indonesia since the 1970s. But they stepped up their campaign after East Timor was

allowed to break free.

Like many people from Indonesia's outlying provinces, the Acehnese complain that the central government exploits the province for its natural resources without providing any revenue in return.

Indonesia's parliament has already passed two laws intended to provide the provinces more say over their own affairs - and a larger chunk of the revenue derived from their own resources. The plan for decentralization is to go into effect next year.

But that may not be enough to satisfy the Acehnese. Human rights groups estimate that at least five thousand people have died or disappeared at the hands of the Indonesian military in Aceh in the past 10 years. (Signed)

NEB/MPN/PFH