War-weary Acehnese urged the Indonesian government and separatist rebels to get serious about saving their fragile peace pact, after a crucial meeting was called off at the last minute.

This weekend's meeting in Geneva of the Joint Council – grouping government and rebel leaders and foreign mediators – was scrapped after Jakarta announced Thursday evening it was pulling out.

A Joint Council meeting is seen as the last hope of saving the December 9 pact to end the 26-year war which has cost an estimated 10,000 lives – mainly civilians.

"The government and GAM [rebel Free Aceh Movement] should realise they should continue the peace process," said coffee stall operator Abdullah, 50. "They have to be serious and think about the needs of the people of Aceh so we can live our lives without any fear."

Acehnese who greeted the deal with euphoria have become increasingly nervous in recent weeks as it faltered amid a wave of killings. Brimob paramilitary police were seen reinforcing one post with extra sandbags Friday. "The government and GAM should make another attempt for a meeting," student activist Mohammad Iqbal told AFP.

Top security minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Jakarta's decision followed a move by GAM to postpone the start of the meeting by two days, from Friday to Sunday. Mediators from the Geneva-based Henry Dunant Centre played down the dispute as a logistical problem and said they hope to reschedule the meeting as soon as possible.

The government had faced strong opposition from elements of the powerful military to the original peace pact. It also faced domestic criticism after complying with a GAM request to switch the venue from Tokyo to Geneva.

Yudhoyono made it clear he saw the postponement as a snub. "The Indonesian people have dignity and honour, which cannot be humiliated by anyone, including the separatist Free Aceh Movement," he told a press conference Thursday night.

Asked if Jakarta should be more lenient with GAM's request, Yudhoyono replied: "... for the Indonesian people, that request truly hurts their dignity and pride." He described GAM's postponement as "an absolutely irresponsible attitude, which will destroy the process for a peaceful solution." Any future talks would depend on an upcoming cabinet meeting, he said.

Some senior military officials have hinted that an all-out attack will be launched on the rebels if the Joint Council talks fail.

Yudhoyono said he had told the military and police "to maintain security in Aceh and to protect civilians." Asked if this implied a military operation, he replied: "Not a single word that I have used mentioned any instruction for a military operation in Aceh." GAM representative Sofyan Ibrahim Tiba said both parties should still respect the peace pact.