Sites chosen for another disarmament

Sites chosen for another disarmament

BANDA ACEH, Aceh: The government, separatist rebels and foreign monitors have agreed on the sites for a second phase of rebel disarmament in Aceh province, a member of the foreign monitoring team said on Tuesday.

But the start date for the weapons handover is still to be decided.

Weapons would be surrendered in Sabang town and in the districts of North Aceh, East Aceh and Aceh Tamiang, said Lt. Gen. Nipat Thonglek, deputy chief of the Aceh Monitoring Mission (AMM).

North and East Aceh were known as rebel strongholds.

The second phase of the weapons handover is scheduled to begin on Oct. 15 but discussions are taking place about whether the process can begin before then.

"We hope that the second phase of the weapons handover can take place earlier than the initial schedule of Oct. 15, 2005," Thonglek said. --AFP