Jakarta – Military and civilian leaders, several allegedly behind large-scale human rights abuses in Aceh over the past decade, have defended their policies before parliamentary deputies, saying that tough measures were needed to maintain law and order.

They presented the defence on Monday before a special committee of the House of Representatives that began unprecedented questioning of the military leaders on human rights violations in Aceh. The questioning continued until nearly midnight.

"What happened [in Aceh] was that the Indonesian Armed Forces carried out its duties to safeguard the national defence and security ... to protect the nation from internal and external threats has become our main priority," former armed forces commander General Try Sutrisno told the committee. "We, the Indonesian Armed Forces, have never been proud of conducting military operations against our own brothers," General Try added.

The committee is questioning six generals and a former Aceh governor. The military leaders were all in command of Aceh operations at some time during the past decade when the military tried to crush rebels of the Free Aceh Movement.

Former Aceh governor Ibrahim Hasan is the only civilian so far called before the 50 members of the committee.

The military operation was halted last year, but human rights violations in Aceh still continue, many allege. Thousands are believed to have died during the crackdown.

General Try and Mr Ibrahim said the separatists had been conducting "rebellious actions against the legitimate Government, kidnapping and killing security members", and had "intimidated the people, destroyed vital projects and disturbed law and order". According to Mr Ibrahim, former president Suharto ordered him to make a "cultural approach" to the Acehnese rebels first, adding that "a security approach will be the second choice".

But the cultural approaches through ulemas (religious leaders and schools) and students failed, Mr Ibrahim said, prompting him to ask Jakarta to send troops to Aceh. However, General Try said there "were no military policies to kill, to rape or to kidnap Acehnese people".

The questioning is taking place ahead of the Saturday deadline set by the Acehnese for the Indonesian Government to decide a timetable for a referendum on independence. The Free Aceh Movement, which wants to create an independent Islamic state, celebrates its 23rd anniversary that day. A general strike in the province is expected and many people have vowed to raise the movement's flag. The military has warned it will answer those who raise the rebel flag with bullets.

Even as the questioning of the military and civilian leaders continued in Jakarta, the first example of Islamic law, planned to be fully implemented in Aceh, was given when a young couple was sentenced on Monday to be caned 100 times each for "conducting extra-marital affairs".

Meanwhile, three people were shot dead yesterday in the latest outbreak of violence, police reported. Two men were killed in central Aceh while another was shot in Teunom district, west Aceh.

Also in Samatiga district, west Aceh, dozens of soldiers were reported to have gone on a rampage after the death of a colleague. Students in the district said the soldiers destroyed about 60 houses and six vehicles. Reports from Aceh yesterday also said 30 civilians had been tortured by alleged soldiers on Monday in West Aceh.