Ten days ago Indonesia launched a full-scale military invasion into the northern province of Aceh, just hours after talks broke down between the government and the Free Aceh movement. Aceh has now been subjected to aerial bombing and 30,000 to 40,000 Indonesian troops are on the ground. Accounts of civilian executions and other atrocities are now being widely reported. Indonesia's chief negotiator in the failed peace talks was Wiryono Sastrohandoyo. Mark Davis spoke to him a short time ago in Jakarta about the slide into war.

Mark Davis: Wiryono Sastrohandoyo, welcome to Dateline. There was some sense of optimism in the past year that there'd be a peaceful solution in Aceh. That optimism has disappeared almost overnight. Diplomats such as you have been replaced by a full-scale military assault. Did the speed of that change surprise you?

Wiryono Sastrohandoyo, Indonesian Aceh negotiator: I think the simple problem is that the other side, that is the rebels, the Free Aceh movement, did not sincerely sign the agreement and implement it. So after five months or even almost six, you know, the other side has not placed their weapons, and they continue to talk about independence and while have accepted the autonomous scheme. So the whole situation becomes untenable for the government and we cannot just continue to tolerate this kind of behaviour.

Mark Davis: Well, the Free Aceh movement make exactly the same accusation against you and Indonesia army and your delegation, that you sabotaged the talks.

Wiryono Sastrohandoyo: And that is why we ask for the joint council meeting, because they were blockading the implementation at the level of the joint security committee. And I went to Geneva on 23 April and they suddenly changed the date to 27. We could not have a meeting in Geneva so we come again to Tokyo. That is the goodwill of the government.

Mark Davis: This argument over the dates is starting to sound a little bit petty on both sides. But what the Free Aceh movement claim is that the Indonesian Army deliberately launched attacks in Aceh on the eve of these discussions to sabotage them.

Wiryono Sastrohandoyo: We have exhausted all efforts for peaceful solution. So we have been very patient. We have waited for five months and it is supposed to be at least storing weapons 20% each month. For three months, not a single weapon has been placed. If they have any accusation about or objection or grievances about the implementation of the Indonesian Government, we can discuss that, and that's why we want to have a meeting of the joint council.

Mark Davis: But you're not discussing it, you've launched a full-scale military invasion. This is quite a dramatic backflip.

Wiryono Sastrohandoyo: No, no, no. You are completely mistaken. You see, the government has a 4-point program. The first is the humanitarian operation, second is the upholding of justice and the law operation, three is to make the government more efficient and fourth only is the military security operation.

Mark Davis: And what are we seeing today? You've moved from number one to number four very quickly.

Wiryono Sastrohandoyo: Well, there are – number one, number two is in progress also, but, of course, the media is only reporting on number four.

Mark Davis: Well, because number four is very clearly happening. You've got 30,000 troops there, aerial bombings, you've got civilians dying.

Wiryono Sastrohandoyo: I know. But, you know, the 16th president of the United States, to preserve the union, also used force whenever the efforts for peaceful solution are already exhausted.

Mark Davis: The Free Aceh movement, their most serious accusation is that the army deliberately provoked attacks...

Wiryono Sastrohandoyo: You seem to be with the Free Aceh movement and you don't want to be objective.

Mark Davis: I'm not with either side, sir, but I'm just suggesting that given the historical and recent record...

Wiryono Sastrohandoyo: All right, but also observe the fact that the government is trying everything to do, to have it settled peacefully.

Mark Davis: Well, you've written...

Wiryono Sastrohandoyo: We have been trying it for three years. We have negotiated since the year 2000 and we have an agreement in December last year which is not being implemented by the other side.

Mark Davis: Well, you've written with some candour about the atrocities that occurred against the Acehnese people under President Suharto – how is it any different today, with...

Wiryono Sastrohandoyo: In any situation of conflict – in any situation of conflict, the first victim is always human rights and that's why we want to correct that situation. And it is not being responded properly.

Mark Davis: Sorry, I'm confused, how are you correcting that situation today? There's civilians being killed, there's reports of children being killed...

Wiryono Sastrohandoyo: We have tried for three years. We have negotiated a document that is signed but they don't implement it. They accept it, autonomy, but they keep on talking about independence, they even appointed a governor and everything, you know, setting up rival government. Now, that is very inconsistent to the agreement.

Mark Davis: So you support the move from a diplomatic solution to a military solution that's occurred in the past fortnight?

Wiryono Sastrohandoyo: It is something that cannot be, you know, put aside. We prefer diplomatic solution and we sign an agreement and we are implementing the agreement. Now, if the other side wants to have verification and so on or to improve the implementation, that's what we are going to discuss in Tokyo.

Mark Davis: When the chief of the armed forces addressed his commanders in Aceh two weeks ago, he was quoted as saying "You're...

Wiryono Sastrohandoyo: You seem to be only interested in pointing fingers at my government.

Mark Davis: Well. it's more than pointing a finger, sir. His declaration was "You are trained to kill, so wipe them out."

Wiryono Sastrohandoyo: No, we are not trying to kill, we are trying to preserve life.

Mark Davis: Yeah, so explain that to me.

Wiryono Sastrohandoyo: Yes, of course, that's why we have a humanitarian assistance operation, we have the law upholding justice operation, and we want to be correct, you know.

Mark Davis: This doesn't seem consistent...

Wiryono Sastrohandoyo: ... body with the law.

Mark Davis: It doesn't seem consistent with the reports that are coming out of Aceh at the moment, sir.

Wiryono Sastrohandoyo: Well, the reports – I know – and ... we are doing it not with great enthusiasm, you know, but the other side is, you know, it has to be implementing what it has signed.

Mark Davis: There are some...

Wiryono Sastrohandoyo: It is a matter of – it's a simple problem of implementing an agreement – that's it.

Mark Davis: There are some...

Wiryono Sastrohandoyo: An agreement that they've signed on 9 December and which they didn't implement until now.

Mark Davis: Sir, both sides are making this accusation at the moment.

Wiryono Sastrohandoyo: Look, what I'm trying to do is to clarify the issue and not to have an argument with you or polemics with you.

Mark Davis: Well, there are some...

Wiryono Sastrohandoyo: Otherwise we may as well end it – otherwise we may as well end this interview. Thank you very much.

Mark Davis: Sir, there are some remarkably brutal officers in the Indonesian army. Do you have any confidence...

Wiryono Sastrohandoyo: You seem to be still only on accusing my government. You don't want to see the other side. I think this is enough. I'm sorry, thank you.

Mark Davis: Thanks for joining us, sir.