JAKARTA, May 26 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - Grave human rights abuses including the killing of children and other civilians are already being reported in Indonesia's Aceh province, as media reports said that the major military offensive at the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) has triggered an exodus of natives.

Amnesty, in a weekend report, urged both sides to make protection of civilians a priority and said it is gravely concerned that martial law will make abuses more likely.

"There are already reports that this is the case and that civilians, including children, have been subjected to extrajudicial execution, and that many thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes," Agence France-Presse (AFP) quoted the report as saying.

"Amnesty International reminds the government of Indonesia that the declaration of a military emergency does not allow derogation of basic human rights..."

The London-based group said Jakarta must follow several steps "if the massive human rights violations which have characterized previous operations are not to be repeated."

Amnesty said the government must "issue clear and strongly worded directives" to security forces to stick to international human rights and humanitarian law, asserting that guilty parties must be prosecuted.

"Despite the thousands of cases of human rights violations that have been reported in Aceh over the years, in only three cases known to Amnesty International have investigations been completed and members of the security forces been brought to trial," it said.

Even before martial law was imposed on the province, it said, "torture of detainees in both police and military custody was widespread as were deaths in custody and 'disappearances' of suspects."

The social affairs ministry said last week it is preparing tented camps for up to 60,000 civilians who may be moved out of combat zones. It said residents would be "strongly advised" but not forced to leave homes.

In Aceh and elsewhere in Indonesia in the past, Amnesty said, security forces have tortured or raped women and girls as a form of intimidation and as punishment for their relatives’ alleged involvement with opposition groups.

Since 2000, the rights group said, 13 human rights defenders are believed to have been executed in Aceh and scores of others subjected to torture, detention without charge and harassment and intimidation.

In a statement received by AFP in Jakarta on Saturday, GAM chief spokesman Sofyan Daud said that more than 30 people had been killed in just one village.

The breakdown of talks ended a five-month-old ceasefire that had raised hopes of a permanent resolution to the 26-year conflict.

Up to 40,000 police and soldiers are confronting an estimated 5,000 rebels from GAM, which has been fighting for an independent state since 1976. Some 10,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed since then.

In another development, Indonesia's military said Monday it was stepping up attacks against Aceh separatists.

Operations "will be intensified," said national military spokesman Major General Syafrie Syamsuddin.

Raids against GAM separatists would be stepped up in the northern districts of Bireuen and Pidie, East Aceh and Aceh Besar around the provincial capital, he said.

On Monday afternoon, security forces shot dead six rebels in two separate clashes in Woyla and Cot Punti in West Aceh, said Aceh military spokesman Yani Basuki. One of the six is believed to be a GAM commander.

Another spokesman said air strikes would be launched if separatists hold the high ground or are massed in greater strength than troops.

Syamsuddin said residents would be separated from separatists before attacks are launched but gave no details.

Syamsuddin also warned foreign and local reporters of what he called possible GAM attacks against them.

"If the scale of operations intensifies, rest assured that there will be reactions from GAM. If the reaction is launched towards troops, that's what we are waiting for. But if the reaction is carried out against the media, we have to consider their safety," he said.

Heavily-guarded convoys trucked food, fuel and other essentials into Aceh Monday. Drivers had stopped plying the route between Banda Aceh and Medan in neighboring North Sumatra province after arson attacks on vehicles and threats.