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Jakarta steps up Aceh offensive

BANDA ACEH (Indonesia) May 20. Indonesia's military dropped more paratroopers on Tuesday in Aceh in an assault against separatist guerrillas who defied demands to disarm, while officials in Washington and other capitals urged Jakarta to restart autonomy talks with the rebels.

Five rebels were killed and seven others captured on Monday during the first day of the assault, Maj. Gen. Endang Suwarya said on Tuesday. Indonesia has sent more than 1,000 elite troops to the north-western province, firing rockets and landing marines in what is expected to be Indonesia's biggest military operation since it invaded East Timor in 1975.

There were no immediate reports of fighting on Tuesday, but buildings — mostly schools — were set ablaze in northern Aceh. At least 20 schools were burned on Monday.

``Those captured rebels have revealed that (the rebel group) has a plan to burn down school buildings, especially those located around military posts, in order to discredit the military,'' Gen. Suwarya said.

Gen. Suwarya, the military chief in Aceh, said that a battalion of soldiers was being dropped close to southern town of Takengon, a known rebel stronghold. The United States, Japan, Australia and members of the European Union said that talks aimed at securing a deal for Aceh's regional autonomy did not go far enough.

AP

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