The Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) promises to end its offensive against separatist rebels in Aceh province but warns of harsh reprisals if a planned peace agreement fails.

"What is happening is a shift from offensives into defensive strategies. Should skirmishes occur they will only be for defensive purposes," military spokesman Major General Sjafrie Sjamsuddin was quoted as saying on Thursday by German press agency DPA.

He rejected claims that TNI has been intensifying its operations in Aceh prior to the peace agreement scheduled to be signed by government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) on December 9.

Commenting on the ongoing military siege on a separatist stronghold at Cot Trieng village in North Aceh, he said the military would only open fire to prevent the rebels from escaping.

"You know, there are armed separatists in the area. If TNI does not encircle those armed rebels, they might go out and disturb the surrounding people," he was quoted as saying by state news agency Antara.

More than 1,000 troops have surrounded dozens of rebels in Cot Trieng since October 31 as part of the government's strategy to persuade GAM to sign the truce, which is being brokered by the Swiss-based Henry Dunant Center (HDC).

The besieged rebels have refused to surrender and say they will go down fighting.

Sjamsuddin said TNI no longer aims to crush GAM but is giving the rebels an opportunity to surrender and return to the Republic of Indonesia.

He claimed that in the context of restoring security and stability in Aceh, TNI is merely assisting police and not acting to serve its vested interests.

"The task of TNI in Aceh is to implement the policy of the government. However, TNI hopes that the conflict will be resolved through the peace agreement."

He said the rebels would face a severe crackdown if the truce is not a success. "If plan A, which means peaceful solution, fails, there will be plan B, which is to seek out and crush GAM elements," he asserted.

"If the peace agreement fails, I am sure the government will make the other decision and TNI will be committed to implementing that program," he added.

Denial

Vice President Hamzah Haz said Thursday the government is determined to sign the agreement with GAM leaders in Geneva next month.

But GAM spokesman Zaini Abdullah, who represents the movement's exiled leaders based in Sweden, denied the rebels had agreed to a date for the signing of the accord.

He said GAM had not agreed to accept the government's offer of a special autonomy package for Aceh and will continue fighting for independence.

The autonomy package came into effect at the beginning of this year and would be significantly bolstered by the peace agreement, which gives the province free and fair local elections, international monitoring for a disarmament process, and a greater share of the revenue from its vast natural resources.

About 10,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed since GAM began fighting for an independent state in 1976. So far this year at least 1,200 people have died as a result of the conflict.

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono denied the planned signing of the peace agreement had been cancelled.

"I checked with the Henry Dunant Center this morning ... I physically met with HDC officials and the HDC had also communicated it to Stockholm. The statement of Zaini Abdullah was not an official statement of GAM or GAM leaders in Sweden," he said. "Therefore we continue to adhere to our commitment, so the agreement to sign the peace deal on December 9 remains valid," he added.

Yudhoyono urged observers, community figures and politicians to refrain from commenting on developments in Aceh unless they are extremely well informed. "Immediately telling the public about knowledge of a little information will only confuse them. Frankly speaking, it will disturb the [peace] process."

'Destroy them'

TNI commander General Endriartono Sutarto said Thursday the military will maintain its present stance on GAM until there is a "real change of heart" on the part of the rebel leadership.

"We will keep moving as we do now," he said after a meeting at the presidential palace. "If they [GAM] continue to disturb security, well, [we will] destroy them."

He said TNI will only change its stance after GAM signs the peace accord. "The signing of the peace agreement will constitute a real change of heart at the upper level of the rebel hierarchy," he said.

"So until there is certainty [we will] let the field operations continue as they do now," he added.

Asked about "Plan B", Sutarto expressed hope there would be no need for the government to resort to the use of military force. The plan would only become operational if GAM refuses to sign the peace deal, he said.

Donor meeting

Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Jakarta announced Thursday that America, Japan and the World Bank will cosponsor a meeting of donors on rebuilding Aceh.

A press release from the embassy said the Preparatory Conference on Peace and Reconstruction in Aceh will be held in Tokyo on December 3 and attended by "like-minded countries" and international organizations that support a peaceful resolution of the conflict. Representatives of the Indonesian government and Acehnese civil society will also attend.

"The conference will provide an opportunity for participants to discuss ways they might contribute to the social and physical reconstruction of Aceh once there is an end to hostilities," said the press release.