| Submit your comments on this article |
| Southeast Asia |
| Indonesia threatens major offensive in Aceh |
| 2002-11-30 |
| Indonesia's defense minister has warned the army would launch a major military offensive unless separatists in Aceh province sign a peace deal on December 9 ending one of the world's longest-running conflicts. But Matori Abdul Jalil said he was confident the planned signing in Switzerland would go ahead as planned. International mediators from the Geneva-based Henry Dunant Center for Humanitarian Dialogue -- which is facilitating the negotiations -- announced earlier this month that the warring sides had tentatively agreed to end hostilities and hold a political dialogue. But escalating combat in the province of 4.1 million people on the northern tip of Sumatra island has threatened the peace process. Matori warned that if the agreement should collapse, "we will face them with our military." From our point of view, best thing would be a drawn-out war of attrition, with very high casualties on both sides... |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |