Indonesian gov't completes first stage of troops withdrawal from Aceh

The Indonesian government completed the first stage of withdrawal of its non-organic troops from Aceh on Sunday following the peace deal it made with Aceh rebels.

A total of 1,516 troops left Aceh on Sunday, bringing the totalnumber of non-organic troops withdrawn in the first stage to 6,000,Antara news agency reported on Monday.

The 6,000 troops that have been withdrawn accounted for more than 25 percent of the 23,000 non-organic troops assigned in the region, the report quoted a local military officer Maj. Gen. Supiadin as saying.

The withdrawal followed the handing over and destruction of 25 percent of GAM weapons recently. Under the peace deal the government also has to withdraw 25 percent of its non-organic personnel from Aceh.

Asked when the second stage of troops withdrawal would be started, he said it will be done earlier as the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) planned to hand over their weapons before the start of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadhan on Oct. 5.

He said the government appreciated the GAM's decision to surrender more of its weapons before the fasting month. He said the decision could assure more peace and security and prevent possible violence during the fasting month.

"We will try and hopefully be able to carry out the second stage of the troops withdrawal in the middle of October," he said.

He said he also hoped that the second stage of the troops withdrawal could be completed by the end of October so that the troops could celebrate the Idul Fitri post-fasting celebrations in their respective home villages.

Source: Xinhua