Aceh rebels disband armed wing

INDONESIA’S Aceh rebels formally disbanded their armed wing yesterday, fulfilling the next step of a tsunami-inspired peace plan to end one of Asia’s longest separatist conflicts.

Sofyna Daud, a former rebel commander, said: “The Acehnese national army, or the armed wing of the Free Aceh Movement, has demobilised and disbanded. The Aceh national army is now part of civil society and will work to make the peace deal a success.”

The action would take effect immediately, he said.