ABC AUSTRALIA, 31/01/2005, 09:04:54
Indonesia fails to agree on truce with rebels
Indonesia says it has been unable to agree on ceasefire terms with separatist rebels
from tsunami-hit Aceh at talks in Finland, which ended a day early.
Senior security minister, Widodo Adi Sucipto, who led an Indonesian team to Helsinki
for the first face-to-face contact with the rebels in 20 months, says the form of the
truce remains the main obstacle between the two sides.
Indonesia has rejected rebel demands for independence, offering special autonomy
and amnesties instead.
The rebels have yet to publicly respond to the offer.
Mediators say they have lined up further discussions and are optimistic that an end to
almost three decades of fighting can be achieved.
Underscoring the fragile situation on the ground in Aceh, troops killed four rebels while
the talks were in progress.
The military claims they were returning fire on rebels who had arrived in a village to
"disturb" residents.
The Free Aceh Movement has been fighting for an independent state on the tip of
Sumatra island since 1976.
In May 2003 the army launched a major offensive against the rebels after a short-lived
truce and peace talks collapsed.
©2005 ABC
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