Jakarta – At least 71 members of the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) will face charges of subversion, police in the Indonesian province said on Wednesday. The offense can carry a death sentence.

"As of today police have handed over evidence files on 59 cases involving 71 GAM members to the prosecutor's office," said provincial police spokesman Sayed Husainy. He said all of them will be charged with "trying to overthrow the legal government," violence using illegal firearms and other crimes. Prosecutors will prepare the indictments.

The 71 rebels are now detained in the provincial capital Banda Aceh and a number of other districts.

According to latest military figures 808 rebels have been captured or surrendered and 393 others have been killed since Jakarta launched a massive operation to crush GAM on May 19. The official death toll for the military stands at 30 plus nine policemen.