Associated Press in Jakarta – A day after President Abdurrahman Wahid said it was not yet time to discuss an independence referendum, thousands of people protested violently in strife-torn Aceh province on Tuesday to demand an immediate vote.
A crowd of about 10,000 people reportedly set fire to a local assembly building and a police post in Meulaboh, 1,700kms northwest of Jakarta. Witnesses reported several injuries.
Late on Monday, hours after Wahid recalled all Indonesian military units that had been deployed to Aceh to quell the independence movement, hundreds of soldiers reportedly attacked villages in the province's north, seeking revenge for the killing of a colleague earlier in the day.
The local military commander confirmed the attack, saying 36 houses were burned and 136 people arrested. "It was difficult to control the soldiers as they were angry after finding one of their colleagues was shot to death by the rebels," said Lieutenant Colonel Suyatno.
A Red Cross official said at least four people were injured in the attack, including two local Red Cross workers trying to tend to the wounded.
One of the leaders of the Free Aceh Movement rebel group warned against attacks on civilians. "If the military wants to fight, let's do so away from the civilian areas," Darwis Djeunieb said.
On Sunday, Mr Wahid launched negotiations with the rebels in an attempt to bring peace to the region. It has suffered from a decade-long struggle for independence that has left more than 2,000 people dead and 150,000 displaced.
He met with several rebel leaders in Jakarta and tried to convince them of the government's good intentions. "I hope the government can convince the people of Aceh that it is very serious about solving the problem," Mr Wahid said.
Insurgents have intensified their independence campaign in the past year. Their leaders say they were encouraged by international support for an independence referendum for East Timor.
Mr Wahid said he has ordered a full investigation into the alleged killing of civilians by the military in July.