Chris McCall, Jakarta – The Government and rebels from the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) yesterday half-heartedly announced that their ineffective truce would be extended, at least for now. A day after the truce officially expired, a joint statement was issued announcing new talks this month in Switzerland, where the deal was first signed in May.

Human rights monitors urged more understanding of the deep divisions between the two sides before a new round of bloody violence erupted in the separatist province in northern Sumatra. The weak May accord was reached by skirting these issues. Most crucial is whether or not Aceh will one day secede from Indonesia after more than a decade of fighting which has killed thousands.

"If it is war, of course it is going to get very difficult to talk about human rights problems," said Saifuddin Bantasyam, executive director of Aceh's Care Human Rights Forum.

There has already been a war of words over conditions for renewing the truce. Indonesian Foreign Minister Alwi Shihab has said the Government will insist on curbs on rebels, prompting rebel ground commander Abdullah Syafii to question whether the truce was worth renewing.

Mr Bantasyam, whose group is one of the top independent rights monitors in Aceh, said the two sides were setting out their bargaining positions. The talks in Switzerland could turn into long negotiations over Aceh's status, he said. But they could also fail completely. "If indeed this political dialogue happens, maybe the Indonesian Government will say clearly that they do not want Aceh to be independent," said Mr Bantasyam. GAM would then restate its current position that Aceh must have independence.

Indonesia's military, still smarting from the loss of East Timor, has vowed to do all it can to prevent independence for Aceh. Recently several senior military officials have urged the cancellation of the truce and the imposition of a state of emergency instead, which would give the military increased powers.

Mr Bantasyam called for the international community and ordinary Acehnese to pressure both sides and help avoid a greater tragedy. "If it is independence then let it be without violence. The Government of Indonesia must realise that their attitude can also give rise to violence."