Aceh refugees still staying away

BANDA ACEH, Aceh: Thousands of Acehnese refugees from East Aceh regency have not returned to the regency because of the continued conflict here, a senior government official said on Wednesday.

Djafar Latif, the head of East Aceh Regency National Welfare Office said the refugees had left for other regencies in the province and various places nationwide following major military operations last year that intensified the conflict in Aceh between the Indonesian Military personnel and the rebel Free Aceh Movement (GAM) members.

Clashes between government soldiers and rebels continue, albeit less frequent, as a sizable number of GAM rebels (some 1,800) still exist throughout Aceh. -- JP