Aceh's year of martial law achieved little

[dArKeR]

DPA , JAKARTA
Saturday, May 15, 2004,Page 5

Indonesia's decision this week to lift martial law in war-torn Aceh has arguably pleased no one.

Those hoping to see the withdrawal of the 40,000 troops stationed in the province since May 19 last year, when martial law was first imposed, will be disappointed.

The troops will remain, since the government acknowledges that its military offensive to crush the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) has failed to secure the province.

In Indonesia's biggest military offensive since 1975, when it inva-ded East Timor, Indonesia's armed forces claims to have killed 1,963 GAM rebels, arrested another 2,100 and forced 1,276 to surrender.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2004/05/15/2003155566