In a final bid to salvage Aceh's shaky peace pact, separatist rebels have agreed to meet with the Indonesian Government in Geneva next week. The decision by the separatist Free Aceh Movement or GAM comes after Jakarta called for a final meeting to iron out growing differences over the six month old peace pact. The December deal is on the verge of collapse following an upsurge in violence, which has seen at least 25 people killed in the past week and international peace monitors withdrawn from the capital. Jakarta has now threatened all-out war if the Geneva meeting proves fruitless.

Presenter/Interviewer: Linda LoPresti Speakers: Bakhtiar Abdullah, spokesman for the GAM leadership in exile.

Abdullah: Well of course the Indonesians are always threatening us at all times, but it doesn't mean that we are bowing to them because of their attacks. But simply because that we stick on to the road maps in the agreement that was signed on the 9th of December last year.

Lopresti: So will GAM be restating its insistence on independence?

Abdullah: We are not talking about independence or autonomy or anything else. We just want the agreement that was signed to be implemented on the field, and whatever problems that might arise in the process we should try to find a solution for it.

Lopresti: Can you just explain the details of that agreement?

Abdullah: Well among other things that we have agreed to is to cease all violence on the field and that I believe that has worked out tremendously for the last two or three months after that COH (Cessation of Hostilities) agreement was signed. But then lately the violence in the field has escalated, and there is some problem there that has to be resolved.

Lopresti: And it's obviously escalated to a point where there is talk that the peace deal is on the verge of collapse. And you've got the Indonesian government threatening military action?

Abdullah: Yes, there are some hardliners in the military on the Indonesian side who doesn't want to give peace a chance in Aceh, whereas we always sticking on to the part of our deal.

Lopresti: Is it not possible that this recent violence could have been avoided if the sticking point, that is the issue of autonomy versus independence was properly sorted out in the first place last December?

Abdullah: Well I would dare say that when we signed this agreement we have already maintained our stand that the question of independence is the main goal of the struggle of GAM. But at the same time we leave it to the people to decide, because they have also a say for their own future ... to determine themeselves. And this would be possible in the all-inclusive dialogue and in the later stages leading to an election and such things that we have to give them a chance to determine their own future.

Lopresti: So are you confident that next week's meeting will see some kind of breakthrough?

Abdullah: Yes, we're optimistic about it but we are also prepared for the worst also.

Lopresti: And the worst possible scenario would be?

Abdullah: Well if they still want to talk about military fix means then we have no choice but we still as I've said this now, we still want to maintain our stand to carry on with the Cessation of Hostilities agreement.

Lopresti: If the government continues to threaten military action, the violence will not stop in Aceh?

Abdullah: Definitely because if they keep on talking about war, then peace will not have a chance to take place in Aceh. Would it?