1,000 women demand independence

BANDA ACEH, Aceh: More than 1,000 Acehnese women staged a peaceful demonstration in the city on Monday, demanding the government grant full independence to the country's westernmost province.

"Independence is not only the right of GAM (the Free Aceh Movement) but also of all Acehnese people," coordinator of the demonstration Cut Farah said at a free speech forum at the Darussalam field at the city.

The demonstrators, who came from Montasik, Indrapuri and Leupung districts, also called on the government and the joint committee monitoring security and order to tear down all security posts to help create peace in the once-tense province.

He said the Acehnese people, especially women, were still traumatized by mass killings in the past.

After mediation by the Geneva-based Henry Dunant Centre, Indonesia and GAM signed a peace accord to end the 26-year conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives. --JP