INDONESIA'S MILITARY KILLS THREE ACEH “REBELS”, RELEASES HOSTAGES

July 30, 2004 - (AFP) Indonesia’s military said on Friday it had shot dead three suspected separatist rebels and freed four hostages in the conflict-hit province of Aceh.

The three Free Aceh Movement (GAM) fighters were killed during a skirmish in South Aceh district on Wednesday, said military spokesman Chandra Purnama.

Separately, Purnama said 15 army infantry soldiers on Thursday freed four civilians and captured a rebel during a raid on a rebel hideout in West Aceh.

Troops in South Aceh also detained a woman rebel the same day, he said, adding that eight other rebels -- including four women -- surrendered to authorities in three other districts.

The military launched a major operation to crush GAM in May 2003 after the collapse of a brief truce. Military and police figures show about 2,200 rebels have been killed since then.

Rights groups have said many of the dead are ordinary civilians.

GAM has been fighting for independence since 1976.

From: http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/theworld/2004/July/theworld_July608.xml&section=theworld&col=