Jakarta – Indonesia's leading newspapers on Friday urged Jakarta to find a peaceful settlement to separatist unrest in Aceh, a day after President Abdurrahman Wahid said he was open to a ballot on independence in the rebellious province.

The Kompas daily said in an editorial that separatist tension in the resource-rich, staunchly Moslem province on the northern tip of Sumatra stemmed from heavy-handedness by the military and central government, not a genuine desire for independence.

"A referendum which could result in Aceh being a separate country is indeed very shocking ... after the traumatic experience in East Timor," Kompas said.

"At the same time, we should be able to see the preference and campaign for a referendum ... are triggered by disappointment against unfair, repressive treatment rather than the urge to become an independent country," it said.

"We are hoping ... the solution towards the problem in Aceh be given top priority and is done in accordance to the aspirations of the Aceh people."

The military, charged with years of human rights abuses in Aceh, said this week it would start pulling troops out of the territory this month, conceding its hardline approach failed.

"Earlier this week Jakarta made its latest reconciliation gesture by stating that it was ready to abandon its 'security approach' in the province," the Jakarta Post newspaper said.

"These developments are encouraging. The problem is that at this point, Jakarta's offers of a new and more humane approach could be regarded as too little too late by the Acehnese.

"With Abdurrahman as the president of Indonesia, now it is time to push for a settlement that will restore the peace in Aceh once and for all."