Jakarta – At least 16 suspected Acehnese rebels were killed and nine arrested during a military offensive in Aceh from Thursday to Saturday, the Indonesian Military (TNI) said on Sunday.

A press release issued by the TNI said four civilians were also killed in the operation.

The release also said members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) shot and killed three civilians in three separate locations in South Aceh on Friday, while residents found the body of another civilian in East Aceh on Friday.

The military said more than 500 GAM rebels have been sentenced to jail since the start of the campaign to wipe out the movement. More than 900 rebels have also been killed, it said.

The government launched a joint operation on May 19 aimed at wiping out the rebels who have been fighting for independence for the natural resource-rich province since 1976. Over 10,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Aceh since 1976.