'War in Aceh needs 50,000 combatants'

The Indonesian Military has revealed that its plans to crush Free Aceh Movement separatists would involve 50,000 troops and take just six months but would minimize civilian casualties.

A peace deal between the two sides, engaged in a war that has claimed at least 10,000 lives since 1976, is in tatters but both sides have agreed to return to the negotiating table.

Iskandar Muda (Aceh) Military Commander Maj. Gen. Djali Yusuf said in Jakarta on Tuesday that the huge number of troops was needed to combat the guerrilla tactics that would most likely be adopted by the separatists.

"GAM now has around 5,000 members. Ideally, each rebel will be faced by 10 soldiers. But off course we will not ask for that much," Djali said, adding the military currently had 26,000 soldiers in the province.

The Indonesian Military (TNI) had mapped out the targets of operation in order to minimize civilian fatalities, but it would still take about six months to break GAM, Djali said.

"We have to minimize civilian casualties. It will be impossible for us to conduct massive attacks so it will be a guerrilla war.

"We have all the information that we need regarding their number, activities and leaders."

To contain gunrunning, the TNI had increased naval patrols around Aceh.

Aceh military spokesman Lt. Col. Firdaus Komarno said marines killed three suspected separatist rebels in a gunfight in waters off East Aceh.

The marines fired on the alleged GAM members after the guerrillas responded to warning shots by opening fire, Komarno said, adding that 12 Kalashnikov assault rifles and thousands of bullets were found on the boat.