Indonesia's military operation to crush the Free Aceh separatists continues to gather momentum as the war enters its fourth week. The military, the TNI claims it has killed some 160 rebels and taken more than 300 prisoners, with many surrendering. But it also concedes that this week alone seven soldiers have been shot dead and more wounded in what is its worst casualty toll since the start of the conflict.

Presenter/Interviewer: Linda LoPresti

Speakers: Jakarta Post reporter Tiarma Siboro, who's embedded with government units in Aceh,

Siboro: I appreciate the military's decision to set up a military court in line with the soldiers' violations in beating civilians and that's really a good progress in the military's history. It was the first ever trial since the military launched its campaign in several provinces of Indonesia.

Lopresti: A crucial part of the military strategy is to get control of the population, to take the hearts and minds of the people. Has the military succeeded in this regard?

Siboro: Not yet because it's really difficult to separate the civilians from GAM because they are sure that once the military arrives in their village there will be armed conflict which will then cause civilian casualties.

Lopresti: So the resignation of the village chiefs must be a blow to the military, they were a key in getting control of the people of Aceh. Do you expect a shift in military strategy at this point?

Siboro: I was talking to the TNI spokesman and he said that they will monitor the village heads because they are out of the administrative sub-chairs and I think the TNI was suspicious that most of the village chiefs were with GAM.

Lopresti: Is there popular support for GAM?

Siboro: Most people sympathise with GAM rather than with the military. Once I entered a village where the TNI had taken up camp and a woman complained to me that her husband was beaten by the TNI as they attempted to find the rebels.

Lopresti: But even the GAM rebels have been accused of serious abuses by international rights groups. Have you seen any evidence of that?

Siboro: Never. I have never seen the GAM rebels hit people. Maybe they have asked for money or food. But I have never seen GAM hit villages.

Lopresti: The village chiefs on resigning said they were harassed by both the military and the rebels.

Siboro: I heard from some villagers that the village heads were being interrogated by the military and usually GAM will also question them to see whether they are supporting the military.

Lopresti: We've also heard reports of Aceh police targeting rights activists.

Siboro: Yes, mostly foreign activists. The TNI has made a clear rule of engagement that none of the foreign non government organisation activists can enter the province as a means of protecting their safety. They say that foreigners have become the GAM target.

Lopresti: Any feeling on how long this war might go on for?

Siboro: It will take more than one year because some in the military say that the operation will not stop against the GAM movement, to curb the movement and they say that it will take a long year.

Lopresti: So they're looking at a year long war in Aceh?

Siboro: Yes.