Aceh rebels freed as deadline looms

Aceh's separatists said the arrests violate the peace deal

Four detained negotiators of the Free Aceh Movement (Gam) were released on Sunday, two days after being arrested in connection with a series of bombings across Indonesia.

The move could offer a glimmer of hope for last-ditch efforts to save the crumbling peace deal between Gam and the Indonesian Government.

Indonesia has said if Gam rebels do not meet government officials by Monday to resolve differences over a peace agreement they face an all-out military offensive.

Aceh police spokesman Sayed Hoesainy told Reuters news agency the four had been temporarily released "while we wait for the government's decision" on whether to stick with the peace deal.

Meanwhile, officials for the Geneva-based Henry Dunant Centre, which brokered a peace agreement between the two sides, were trying to save the deal ahead of Monday's deadline.

"We're still talking with both parties today and will wait and see. We hope the best can be achieved," said David Gorman, who heads the centre's operations in Aceh.

The four released negotiators - who were part of a joint committee attempting to oversee the peace deal - were arrested as they tried to leave Indonesia's western province.

This shows the Indonesian government has no good faith at all toward resuming the dialogue,

Rebel spokesman

They were accused of involvement in recent bombings in Jakarta and the northern city of Medan.

A Gam spokesman described the detentions as "the biggest violation" of the peace deal so far.

"This shows the Indonesian Government has no good faith at all toward resuming the dialogue," the spokesman told Reuters news agency.

Preparing for war

The government has set the Monday deadline for the separatists to agree to peace talks and other demands or face a military offensive.

About 600 Indonesian troops are expected shortly to join thousands of soldiers already sent to Aceh, as part of preparations for a possible offensive.

Indonesia is increasing its military presence in Aceh

Gam, for its part, has ordered its fighters to take up defensive positions and has cancelled all leave.

"The situation in the nation of Aceh today is entering the second colonial war," a rebel spokesman said on Friday - comparing Jakarta's troops to the Dutch invaders of the late 19th century.

There was initial optimism when Gam and the government agreed to the 9 December peace deal, designed to bring an end to a 26-year conflict that has claimed at least 12,000 lives.

Under the terms of the agreement, the rebels were to place their weapons in special arms dumps, and the Indonesian military was to withdraw to defensive positions.

Neither Jakarta nor Gam has so far fulfilled its side of the bargain, and they continue to blame each other for the breakdown in relations.

Violent incidents are on the increase, with thousands of villagers fleeing their homes and seeking refuge in local mosques and schools.

Indonesia's Foreign Minister, Hassan Wirayuda, defended a possible crackdown in the territory.

"Honestly, what we are doing - or will do- in Aceh is much less than the American power that was deployed in Iraq. We aren't violating anyone's sovereignty," he said.