Aceh rebels refuse to give names

Gam has been handing in its weapons

The Free Aceh Movement (Gam) in Indonesia's Aceh province has refused to give the names of its members to the government.

The government says it needs the names of 3,000 fighters who may be eligible for financial assistance under a landmark peace deal signed in August.

But Gam leaders said that naming its members was not necessary.

A BBC correspondent says Gam fears its fighters may face discrimination, and wants to distribute payments itself.

The peace deal, which seeks to end 30 years of fighting in the province, includes an agreement that Gam members will be given money to help them reintegrate into society.

KEY POINTS OF THE ACCORD Gam gives up all 840 of its weapons in four stages Government matches that by withdrawing some 24,000 troops in four stages Disarmament and withdrawal to be complete by 31 December Government facilitates Aceh-based political parties Amnesty granted to Gam members Truth and reconciliation commission established Aceh monitoring mission set up by EU and Asean

But the text of the deal does not stipulate that the rebels should be named.

Gam's leadership has not given a reason why it is wary of providing the names.

But Sofyan Dawood, the group's spokesman, told Reuters news agency: "We need to question the purpose of asking these 3,000 names."

Asked whether naming Gam members could endanger them, the Indonesian representative of the mission monitoring the peace process said: "Please don't think that way. Think of the positive side that this [peace agreement] will not fail," according to the Jakarta Post.

The first phase of the peace process has so far gone relatively smoothly.

Gam and the Indonesian military have both undertaken half of their part of the initial phase of the deal - involving troop withdrawal and decommissioning - and are due to finish the first step by the end of the year.

Gam has also agreed to give up its goal of a separate state, in return for local political representation.