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Aceh Security Agreement Reached In Switzerland
GENEVA, Feb 17 (News Agencies) - Indonesian government representatives and Aceh separatists agreed Friday a security pact to replace the current ceasefire in the troubled province, sources close to the talks said.
The measures, details of which were not released, are designed to replace a ceasefire agreed by the two sides last month and extended until February 20th, the sources said.
The security steps would remain in force indefinitely and be reviewed periodically, a joint statement by the two parties said.
The agreement followed two days of talks at a secret location in Switzerland between Jakarta officials and rebels of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), which has been fighting for independence since 1976.
Field commanders from both sides will hold regular meetings in Aceh, after an initial meeting by commanders in Banda Aceh on February 9th and 10th which produced a "detailed practical agreement" to reduce violence, the joint statement said.
The two sides also agreed to organize a series of preliminary and informal consultations "as part of a broader process of democratic political consultation" in Aceh involving different sectors of society, it added.
The talks were the fifth round to have been facilitated by the Geneva-based Henri Dunant Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue and take place amid a customary tight media blackout.
At the last meeting in January, the parties agreed a "moratorium on violence" originally due to have expired on Thursday but which had been extended until February 20th, according to an Aceh spokesman.
Despite violence having continued in the province on the northern tip of Sumatra island during the one-month moratorium, the number of violent incidents in Aceh has decreased, the statement said.
They were "greatly encouraged" by the first ever meeting of commanders which also agreed the establishment of a hot line to allow contact "at the highest operational levels".
The hot line has since come into frequent use, it said.
Jakarta and Aceh separatists opened dialogue last year but violence has continued with more than 1,000 people killed in 2000 and more than 150 dead this year.
The GAM wants complete independence for the oil- and gas-rich province but Jakarta has ruled out independence, pledging only broad autonomy.
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