TNI, GAM to temporarily bury the hatchet

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

The Indonesian military (TNI) and Aceh separatists have agreed separately to a temporary halt in hostilities after Sunday's earthquake and tsunami disaster.

Chief of the Indonesian military (TNI) Gen. Endriartono Sutarto said on Monday that the TNI would reassign most troops to relief efforts, and he asked that the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels do the same.

The cease-fire was urgent, so both sides could focus on helping the victims of the disaster, said Endriartono.

"GAM should not use the opportunity for something else. This is really all about humanitarian problems," said Endriartono.

The TNI has been involved in a major military offensive against GAM since May last year after the government declared martial law as peace talks broke down.

A GAM spokesman said that its central command in Sweden had already issued orders to all of GAM's armed units in Aceh to cease hostilities and focus on relief efforts.

The GAM troops would not attack TNI soldiers, unless the TNI soldiers attacked them first, said Bachtiar, the GAM spokesman.

In a separate development, chief of the Aceh provincial police Insp. Gen. Bachrumsyah admitted that some 300 Mobile Brigade (Brimob) soldiers were missing, after giant waves swept away their compound in Banda Aceh.

Meanwhile, Endriartono explained that the total number of TNI personnel confirmed dead in the disaster was 377.

"Around 180 were a unit of (elite) raiders from Iskandar Muda military command, who were participating in a training session in the Ule Glee area," he said, as quoted by detik.com news portal.