Jakarta – Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) Spokesman Major General Sudrajat has confirmed former vice president Try Sutrisno's controversial statement that Aceh province was never classified as a Military Operation Zone (DOM).

Until Sutrisno's statement made earlier this week, conventional wisdom had it that Aceh was classified as a DOM region following a resurgence in separatist rebellions in 1989. Over the following nine-years, an estimated 2,000 people were killed by the military, which also used rape and torture in a bid to quash the pro-independence movement.

The DOM status was lifted in 1998 by then-TNI commander General Wiranto, who apologized for the military's actions. But Sudrajat, speaking at a military ceremony in Jakarta yesterday, denied the DOM status was ever imposed on Aceh.

He said Wiranto withdrew the DOM status last year because the people Aceh and most other Indonesians believed it had been imposed.

"Pak Wiranto declared it withdrawn because there was a perception among the public that [the government] had imposed a military operation in Aceh," Sudrajat said.

Sutrisno, who was also present at yesterday's ceremony, again insisted there had never been a special military operation in Aceh to crush the separatists. "They just fought against us and we attacked them. Those are the normal risks in any clash," he said.

Told by reporters that TNI should be brought to justice for the high number of civilian casualties in Aceh, Sutrisno curtly responded that if the military is in the wrong, such a charge must be proved in court. Many of Indonesia's courts are notorious for having poorly paid judges who can be bought.

"A special court to examine violations of human rights may be created over the next few years, but an interim court can be established, for the trial of military personnel who cooperated with civilians in relation to human rights violations. And the alleged violations must be proven before the court. Only then can you say we are in the wrong," he said.