The Indonesian Government says it wants to begin peace talks with separatist rebels in Aceh by the end of the month but members of the Indonesian army do not appear to be as willing to negotiate. The chief of the Indonesian army, Ryamizard Ryacudu, claims to have killed 120 separatist fighters in the past fortnight. He says the separatists were stealing relief supplies. The army's chief has threatened to crush the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) if it does not surrender to Indonesian forces. Asked about the planned resumption of peace talks between the Government and GAM by the end of this month, he answered, ''For me, if GAM doesn't give up, just beat them. I don't want to think difficult things.'' Mr Ryacudu said some 40,000 Indonesian soldiers are currently in Aceh. He said half of them are carrying out humanitarian activities in the province, including cleaning up cities and towns and escorting convoys of vehicles bringing assistance from the neighbouring province of North Sumatra. Another 20,000 soldiers are still involved with the military crackdown on the rebels, who have been seeking independence from Indonesia since 1976. Today, the Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will travel to tsunami-affected Banda Aceh on Indonesia's western tip to mark the Muslim day of sacrifice with the local people.