Aceh rebels talk tough despite deal

Thousands of Indonesian troops are stationed in Aceh

Separatist rebels from the troubled Indonesian province of Aceh say they will continue their campaign for independence after signing an historic agreement with the government on Monday.

"Free Aceh Movement (Gam) was formed to fight for the independence of Aceh. That is the aim of Gam and it will remain so," said its leader, Malik Mahmud.

But he stressed Acehnese would now choose their future through elections

Terms of the deal

Immediate ceasefire

Free elections in 2004 to establish an autonomous government, but no independence

New provincial government allowed to keep 70% of fuel revenues

Rebels must disarm in designated areas

The deal allows for autonomy and free elections to Aceh - which lies at the northern tip of the island of Sumatra - in exchange for the rebels disarming.

The accord was signed at the Henry Dunant Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue in Geneva, which helped mediate the deal during two years of delicate negotiations.

"We all know that it won't be perfect, that there will be problems on the ground," said retired US general Anthony Zinni who was involved in the talks. "But the mechanisms that have been put in place will be able to handle them."

Both sides admitted that they still had to settle important details ahead of elections planned in 2004, including monitoring, disarmament and future government.

The Dunant Centre says up to 150 mainly foreign monitors should be involved.

The 26-year conflict in staunchly Islamic, oil-rich Aceh province has left about 10,000 people dead.

Muted reaction

A group of international figures, who have been helping to negotiate the accord, were present for Monday's signing.

As well as General Zinni, they included former Thai Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan, and Budimir Loncar, Yugoslavia's last foreign minister at the time of the country's break-up in 1992.

"It is an historic day for the people of Aceh," declared Martin Griffiths, the director of the Dunant Centre.

However, no big festivities have been planned to mark the treaty in Aceh itself, despite the possibility that one of the world's longest-running, and least heeded, insurgencies could be coming to an end.

Many people kissed the ground in joy as news spread of the agreement being signed, although there was also caution and a great deal of scepticism.

"This is what we wanted the most," said one resident of provincial capital Banda Aceh, smiling broadly after he heard the news.

"Everyone in Aceh will indeed praise the Lord but we won't be celebrating, just thanking God," he added.

Mistrust

Under the terms of the agreement, the rebels are supposed to give up their weapons and place them in designated sites.

Many Acehnese have been observing the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr

But how and when to disarm has been a major bone of contention during negotiations.

After years of brutal conflict and a catalogue of human rights abuses, the level of mistrust on both sides is impossible to over-estimate, says a BBC correspondent in Jakarta.

Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri has made solving the Aceh problem one of her top priorities, and if she succeeds it could significantly boost her chances of re-election in two years' time.

For the rebels, the deal falls short of full independence, but offers the chance of free elections for a provincial government - a government which will be allowed to keep up to 70% of Aceh's substantial oil and gas revenues.