Indonesia to step up rebel offensive

INDONESIA plans to step up a military offensive against separatist rebels in Aceh a week after declaring martial law in the province and sending in thousands of troops.

“We have evaluated and decided that the momentum has to be increased,” Indonesia’s main military spokesman, Major General Sjafrie Sjamsuddin, told reporters in the provincial capital, Banda Aceh, on the northern tip of Sumatra island.

He said the stepped-up campaign against Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatists would include more patrols and sweeps, referring to such tactics as vehicle searches and document checks.