Jakarta – The military is losing patience with peace efforts in Indonesia's Aceh province and should be allowed to crack down on separatist rebels, a top general said yesterday.

"No matter what country they are in, rebels have to be totally destroyed," said Lt-General Ryamizard Ryacudu, quoted by the Antara news agency. He said the government had tried to find a peaceful solution to the 25-year conflict, but the insurgent Free Aceh Movement had used the lull in hostilities to build up its armoury. "The fact is, they don't want peace," said the general, who commands the elite strategic reserve force Kostrad.

His comments came amid speculation that President Megawati Sukarnoputri will use the army to crack down on separatist sentiment in Aceh and elsewhere in the nation. Violence in the province, about 1,750 km north-west of Jakarta, has escalated during the first month of Ms Megawati's administration. On Wednesday, a ministerial team visited the province on a fact-finding mission. Rebel leaders condemned the trip as little more than a publicity stunt.

More than 6,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the past decade, including at least 1,000 this year. Human rights groups blame the military for most of the atrocities, including the massacre of 31 plantation workers earlier this month.

Meanwhile, the local newspaper Serambi Indonesia resumed publication yesterday after closing down for 13 days. The paper suspended operations after receiving threats from rebels.