Derwin Pereira, Jakarta – Simmering differences are emerging between President Megawati Sukarnoputri and her generals on how to resolve the bloody conflict in Aceh. Both sides share the aim of keeping the restive province within the Indonesian fold.

military sources said the palace was putting the brakes on a "quick solution" by pursuing dialogue rather than troop deployments. "The army would prefer Ibu Mega to take a stronger line against the Acehnese rather than to give in to their demands, which makes it appear that we are weak," said a two-star general.

But he was clear that differences over tackling the Aceh problem would have little bearing on the military's "symbiotic" relationship with the new President unless she prosecuted generals for human-rights abuses.

The 54-year-old leader, who rose to power two months ago with critical military (TNI) backing, has been careful not to venture such an idea given that she needs that backing until 2004. She is not about to follow the path of her predecessor, Mr Abdurrahman Wahid, who alienated the generals by exposing past excesses.

During her recent trip to Aceh, she refused to cave in to pressure from her Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDI-P) to highlight the military's involvement in atrocities there. But she has also been careful to draw the line on Aceh with the generals, despite giving them a budget bonus this year of more than 15 trillion rupiah (S$2.75 billion), payback, perhaps, for supporting her presidency.

Sources said the President had made clear to her top brass that she wanted to pursue dialogue to resolve problems in the territory. The Straits Times understands that she summoned TNI chief A. S. Widodo to express reservations about comments made by some of his generals belittling efforts at finding a peaceful solution in Aceh.

Admiral Widodo reportedly told her that they supported her initiative but were hesitant about the President meeting members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), which she had planned to do originally. Said an army general: "That amounts to recognition, so we objected." Eventually, the President succumbed to the wishes of the generals in agreeing not to meet GAM members.

But dialogue – not force – continued to be the government's main agenda in Aceh. The effect of this was to block more troops being sent into Aceh to back up the 15,000 already there. Key officers were not pleased.

While there was tacit backing for deployment of an elite reconnaissance unit, Admiral Widodo – toeing the palace line – turned down requests from the military commander of North Sumatra, I. G. Purnawa, for more combat troops in Aceh.

"For the President, sending in more troops is a signal to the Acehnese that she is prepared to spill blood to achieve her aims," said a two-star general. "She is not prepared to do that now. Maybe, as a last resort, if there is a real threat of Aceh breaking apart." The military was "not bothered" at not sending in more soldiers. "The important thing is Ibu Mega, unlike Gus Dur, seems to better understand the sensitivities of the military," said an army source.