Jakarta – The government must shoulder its share of the blame for any consequences of a military deployment in restive Aceh province, a general has said quoted Thursday.

"The issuer of the orders should also be willing and dare to take responsibility," the head of the army's elite Kostrad strategic command, Lieutenant General Ryamizard Ryacudu said according to the Kompas daily.

Ryacudu, speaking at the command's headquarters here on Wednesday, said his soldiers were always ready to be sent to Aceh where the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) has been fighting for a free Islamic state since the mid-1970s.

But the government, which orders the deployement of troops in Aceh, must also take responsibility for any casualties resulting from such operations.

"Let us say that Kostrad troops are deployed in Aceh and then a lot of people are killed. The soldiers should not then be quick to be blamed and dragged to the court for legal matters," Ryacudu said.

Soldiers only followed orders and blaming them for any casualties was "immoral," he said. "We are instructed and ordered to defend the country and we are prepared to die for it, so we should also be protected. If not, then do not sent Kostrad troops," the general said.