Indonesia warns it may impose emergency in Aceh

"The government will impose an emergency in Aceh if they (Aceh Merdeka Movement rebels) reject the government's appeal to continue dialogue," said Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the coordinating minister for politics, social and security affairs.

However, Yushoyono did not say what kind of emergency situation would be imposed in Aceh. "This is not a threat or an ultimatum, but we are just trying to work within a framework of dialogue so that Aceh remains part of Indonesia," Yudhoyono said.

He said the government will continue its so-called humanitarian pause in military operations as well as continue peace talks with Aceh rebels, but if violence should continue the government will halt the truce in the province.

Peace talks between the government and Aceh rebels was scheduled to resume in Geneva last week, but were postponed after an outbreak of violence in the province. Police said at least 14 people were killed nearly two weeks ago when police fired on crowds of Acehnese trying to go to the provincial capital Banda Aceh for a mass pro-independence rally. Human rights groups put the death toll at more than 40.

Yudhoyono urged the Aceh rebels, known as GAM, to stop committing violence and halt provocative activity because such moves will trigger clashes with security forces. He also appealed GAM to resume the peace negotiations.

The ceasefire, known locally as the "humanitarian pause," took into effect on early June and another three-months of truce will ends on January 15, 2001. Demands for independence in the staunchly Moslem province of Aceh have been fueled by years of human rights abuses by Indonesia's military and resentment over what is seen as Jakarta siphoning off wealth from Aceh's natural resources.

The Aceh Merdeka (Free Aceh) has been fighting for an independent Islamic state in Aceh, on the northern end of Sumatra, since the mid-1970s. More than 5,500 people have died in conflict between government troops and separatist rebels in the province in the past decade.

(la/dpa)