Leading Aceh separatist arrested

Aceh is the scene of a long struggle for independence

A prominent independence activist in the troubled Indonesian province of Aceh has been arrested for organising an unauthorised rally and inciting unrest, according to police.

Muhammad Nazar served 10 months in jail in 2001

Muhammad Nazar, the chairman of the Aceh Referendum Information Centre which campaigns peacefully for a vote on breaking away from Indonesia, was detained after six police kicked down the door of his home and shouted obscenities, his wife said.

Two years ago, Mr Nazar was given a 10-month jail sentence for sedition after his group organised pro-referendum rallies in Jakarta.

His arrest comes as a fragile peace deal signed by the Indonesian Government and separatist rebels two months ago enters a critical disarmament phase.

Questioning

Police took Mr Nazar to the police headquarters in the provincial capital, Banda Aceh.

Peace deal terms

Immediate ceasefire

Rebels must disarm in designated areas

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

New provincial government allowed to keep 70% of fuel revenues

He was being questioned over speeches he made two weeks ago in north Aceh for which he did not hold a police permit, said a deputy police chief in the area, Ari Rahman.

Mr Nazar is reported to have recently stepped up his calls for self-determination in the province.

On 9 December, rebels from another organisation, the Free Aceh Movement (Gam), signed a peace deal which includes free elections in 2004 to establish an autonomous government, but no independence.

It is designed to bring an end to a 26-year separatist war between government forces and Gam rebels.

Disarmament

On Sunday, Gam offered their schedule for disarmament - a key stage on the road to lasting peace.

They will begin placing their weapons in designated sites, which will then be subject to random inspections by international monitors.

For its part, the Indonesian military has agreed to begin relocating soldiers to defensive positions.

The process will be phased in over the next five months.

Both sides have complained of ceasefire violations in the initial two-month "confidence-building period" since the agreement was signed, although there has been a sharp fall in the number of deaths in the province.

Rebels have been fighting for Aceh to become an independent state since 1976.

About 12,000 people have been killed in the violence in the past decade alone.