Aceh rebels reject RP peace monitors

BANDA ACEH (AFP) – Two more deaths were reported yesterday in Indonesia’s troubled Aceh province despite a ceasefire pact as separatist rebels voiced their objection to peace monitors from the Philippines.

The bodies of two civilians believed murdered were found on Wednesday in separate locations in Aceh, humanitarian workers told AFP.

Meanwhile, a senior member of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), Sofyan Ibrahim Tiba, said his group rejected Philippine peace monitors on the ground. He said they were not expected to be neutral.

"President Arroyo once discredited GAM’s struggle," Tiba told AFP, referring to Philippine leader Gloria Arroyo. The Philippines is also facing similar separatist problems in the mainly Muslim Mindanao.

Tiba said the Philippine decision to send peace monitors was in return for Indonesia’s past role in mediating the conflict between Manila and the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

GAM demanded that the Philippine monitors be replaced by representatives from Norway or Brunei, neither of which is currently involved in the peace process.

On Monday police in Banda Aceh broke up a march by around 300 people, protesting against the Filipino contingent.

Brig. Gen. Nagomora Lomodag is the second-ranking foreign representative on the Joint Security Committee (JSC), which was set up following the signing by Jakarta and GAM of a "cessation of hostilities" agreement on Dec. 9 in Geneva. The Geneva-based Henry Dunant Center has acted as mediator in peace talks since 2000.

The JSC is charged with monitoring the implementation of the peace agreement, investigating violations and setting up demilitarized zones.

The 15-member panel, whose senior international member is a Thai general, will be backed by about 150 monitors – a third from the Indonesian military or police, another third from the rebels and an equal number from the Thai and Philippine military.