Marianne Kearney, Jakarta – Last week's assassination of Aceh's former vice-governor illustrates just how dangerous taking a neutral stance is in Aceh these days.

The recent killing of Mr Teuku Djohan, along with the slaying of Mr Safwan Idris, the rector of the Islamic University late last year, has surprised even hardened observers of Aceh because they say these figures were not taking sides at all. Mr Teuku was shot at point-blank range just as he left Banda Aceh's main mosque on Thursday night.

"He was a good man, just like Safwan Idris. Even though he was TNI, he was neutral," Mr Maimul Fidar from the Non-Government Coalition said. TNI refers to the Indonesian Defence Forces.

But it is precisely this neutrality that makes their positions so precarious, diplomats say. Taking the middle ground makes public figures vulnerable to attack and intimidation from both the military and the independence rebels.

The killings, along with the beating up of three local journalists by the military at the weekend, prove that not only is it dangerous to openly advocate a political solution to the conflict, but even trying to accurately report on the violence can invite trouble too.

On Saturday, the editor of Media Kutaraja was beaten up by the military while he was reporting on a military operation, and in another district, soldiers beat two journalists in front of a mosque and took their equipment. More high-profile non-government activists, who have been assisting victims of the violence, say Saturday's slaying of the former vice-governor is particularly chilling – because if well-respected people such as a former governor can be publicly shot, then nobody is safe. Non-government activists say it is now too dangerous for them to venture outside the capital of Banda Aceh.

The violence and fear of intimidation from both sides was polarising the political debates about Aceh's future, Mr Maimul said. "People are not brave enough to speak about autonomy as an option because they are afraid they will be at war with those who don't like autonomy. The only Acehnese who speak out... are those in Jakarta," he said.

In the villages, expressing doubts about independence is even more dangerous, according to diplomats. "You don't criticise GAM ... if they want to get you, they'll get you," said one diplomat.