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Aceh rebels seek safety before disarming
Rebel fighters promised Thursday to abide by an agreement to end a 29-year war in Indonesia's tsunami-ravaged Aceh province, but sought security guarantees before handing over their weapons, AP reported. Rebel spokesman Sofyan Dawood, speaking to reporters for the first time since a peace accord was signed Monday, also called the withdrawal of thousands of Indonesian troops from the region "crucial." "Our safety is now in the hands of ( European Union and Southeast Asian) peace monitors," he said at his jungle hideout, asking that they help protect the rebels when they start handing over their guns in mid-September.
Though several earlier accords have collapsed �� the most recent in 2003 �� both sides say the chances of success are much higher this time. In a sign of good faith, the government released more than 400 rebel fighters from prisons Wednesday to mark the country's Independence Day. Hundreds more will be freed as early as next week, almost all of them political prisoners, Awaluddin said. As part of the agreement the rebels gave up their long-held demand for full independence and agreed to disarm. In return, Jakarta offered Aceh a greater say in running its affairs through a "special autonomy" deal that gives its people the right to choose their own government. It also promised to withdraw 27,000 of the 50,000 soldiers and police now in the region, and agreed to clear all major troop movements with the head of the 250-member international monitoring force.
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