Despite arrests, Japan hopes to host talks

Despite arrests, Japan hopes to host talks

Japan's foreign minister said in Tokyo on Friday she was hopeful talks between Indonesian officials and Aceh separatists would ease tensions, even as the sudden arrest of several rebel negotiators threatened to scuttle the weekend meeting.

Japan, which last year hosted a conference of international donors for the war-torn province, has agreed to play host to the talks, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, by providing the venue.

It is not directly participating, however.

"Japan, recognizing that stability in Indonesia is extremely important for the peace and stability of the Asian region, strongly hopes that the Aceh issue will be solved immediately and peacefully within the territorial integrity of Indonesia," Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi said in a statement.

But right down to the last minute it was by no means certain the talks, aimed at salvaging a Dec. 9 peace agreement signed in Geneva, would be held at all.

Five Aceh negotiators were arrested in the province earlier Friday, as they headed for the airport to depart for Tokyo. Rebel leaders said the talks were off unless they were released.

Japanese officials said Friday they were consulting with Jakarta over the situation.

"The Japanese government is hoping for the release of the detained members so that they could attend and the talks continue as scheduled," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Jiro Okuyama.

But Okuyama refused to elaborate on what measures Tokyo was taking to push for their release.

Even if the talks are held, the two sides have a great deal of ground to cover.

The insurgency in Aceh, an oil- and gas-rich province on the northern tip of Sumatra island, is one of the world's longest armed conflicts, having already spanned 26 years and claimed some 12,000 lives.

Due to security concerns, Japanese officials have refused to announce where in Tokyo the talks were to be held. -- AP