Beijing – On the eve of expected demonstrations for independence in Indonesia's restive Aceh province, Indonesian President Adurrahman Wahid vowed Friday to use "repressive force" to keep the country from splitting apart.

Wahid's comment, at a news conference in Beijing, was his most explicit public commitment to support forceful measures by the Indonesian military and police in Aceh should it become necessary. But he indicated that peaceful demonstrations for independence shouldn't be seen as warranting force.

"We will use repressive forces if we are challenged," Wahid told reporters. "If there is no challenge, just an expression of their wishes, then it's OK. Why not? But if they challenge that, then we will do the repression."

"It will depend on the right of the president, the privilege of the president to do whatever necessary to defend the territorial integrity of the nation," Wahid said.

Pressure has been mounting on Wahid from the armed forces to approve emergency measures to deal with Acehnese rebels who have been emboldened since East Timor voted to secede from Indonesia in August. Since taking office in October, Wahid has backed away from allowing Aceh to hold a referendum on independence.

The force spearheading the independence drive, the Free Aceh Movement, plans to hold large celebrations in the province Saturday to mark the group's founding. Movement leaders have said the demonstrations will be peaceful, but fear the Indonesian military may try to provoke confrontations.

At the Beijing news conference, Wahid said he was considering an offer by Singaporean Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong to arrange a meeting with Free Aceh Movement leaders, but it depended on the terms. Wahid said group demands for an Islamic kingdom in Aceh were "unacceptable to me."