Jakarta – Separatist rebels in Indonesia's restive province of Aceh, in a statement received Monday, urged local and foreign journalists to investigate conditions there and promised them protection.

In the statement issued after two days of peace talks in Switzerland, Sofyan Dawod, the military spokesman of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), said the press trips are necessary to prove the movement is not violating past agreements with the government as Jakarta has claimed.

"GAM will provide protection to all journalists and similar protection should also be sought from the Indonesian armed forces and national police," the statement said. "GAM strongly rejects the claims of the Republic of Indonesia that the GAM has violated several past agreements such as in the humanitarian pause, the secure zones, the moratorium on violence and peace through dialogue," Dawod said.

Thw rebels accused the army and police of violations, including arrests, murder, intimidation and other acts in the name of restoring law and order. "GAM urges elements within the Republic of Indonesia to dare to allow journalists, domestic or international, to cover and conduct direct field investigations, so that they are not only spoon-fed with distorted information and monotonous denials," the statement said.

Representatives from the Indonesian government and the exiled leadership of the GAM wrapped up peace talks in Switzerland Sunday without reaching a deal but agreeing to further talks. Zaini Abdullah, a GAM representative, said another meeting would be convened "in 30 to 45 days."

GAM has been fighting for an independent state since 1976 and a estimated 10,000 people have been killed since then. Human rights groups accuse both security forces and rebels of widespread rights violations. Last year Jakarta granted Aceh greater self-rule and a larger share of the revenue from its substantial oil and gas reserves but ruled out independence.