Banda Aceh – A court martial in Aceh province on Friday cleared 12 soldiers of beating villagers during a hunt for separatist rebels in the province.

The twelve were on trial for assaulting about 50 residents at two villages in North Aceh's Dewantara area in late August after they failed to give information on the whereabouts of Free AcehMovement (GAM) rebels.

The military on May 19 began an all-out offensive aimed at crushing GAM.

Military judge Major Trias Komara told the soldiers, whose ranks range from private to sergeant, they were found not guilty because witnesses had not been able to identify their attackers.

Prosecutors had recommended jail terms of up to three months and accused the soldiers of kicking the villagers and assaulting them with rifle butts and rattan sticks.

Komara, despite finding them not guilty, warned them not to repeat their actions because it will "only lead to an extension of martial law and more victims, both civilians and security forces". Komara also said the twelve would also face disciplinary punishment from their superiors. He gave no details.