Banda Aceh – The number of killings and clashes between Indonesian forces and separatist rebels in Aceh province has plunged sharply a month after a peace deal was signed, a mediation group said yesterday.

For the first time in two years, Aceh saw a week pass without an armed clash between Indonesian government forces and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), and during the past two weeks there had been only one minor incident, the Henry Dunant Centre (HDC) said in a statement.

The Geneva-based HDC has mediated talks between the Indonesian government and GAM since 2000, culminating in the signing of a peace agreement on December 9.

Since the deal, 12 civilians, three rebels and four members of the security forces had been killed, the HDC said – a far cry from the 87 civilians dying monthly for most of last year.

About 10,000 people have been killed since the separatist war began in the province on Sumatra island in 1976.

Mr David Gorman, a HDC representative in Aceh, said: "A month ago, I could not imagine anyone even remotely considering that seven days could go by without some kind of armed conflict between GAM and security forces." Now, there had been no clashes since Jan 4 when soldiers and rebels exchanged fire in East Aceh, he added.

"Aceh is a much safer place than it was a month ago," he said.