Jakarta – The National Commission on Anti-Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) has expressed its concern over the possibility of the Indonesian government resorting to military force to resolve the Aceh conflict.

"We are concerned about the threat made by the Indonesian government to launch another military operation to solve the Aceh conflict," the commission's secretary-general KamalaChandrakirana was quoted by Antara as saying on Friday.

The commission earlier wrote to President Megawati Soekarnoputri and Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Soesilo Bambang Yudhoyono on its concerns and asked Megawati to seek a peaceful solution in Aceh.

The letter was also distributed to the House of Representatives (DPR) leadership and representatives of foreign countries and multilateral agencies in Jakarta.

The commission said both the government and the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) should keep open the option of creating peace in Aceh. It said the people of Aceh, particularly Acehnese women, longed for a lasting peace and no longer wanted to fall victim toany form of violence.

"It is the right of the Acehnese civilians, both men and women, to take an active part in all processes of peace negotiations," the commission said.