Banda Aceh – Military authorities in Aceh on Thursday banned foreign observers from monitoring next month's general elections in 453 so-called "black areas" in the war-torn province due to security concerns.

Maj. Gen. Endang Suwarya, who heads the martial law administration in Aceh, said foreign observers would only be allowed to monitor general election activities in certain sub-district areas during the upcoming polls on April 5.

"The foreign observers will not be allowed to monitor those locations categorized as the black areas," Suwarya told reporters, referring to areas classified as high security risks.

Aceh's military authority has divided the province's 11,025 voting areas into 2,440 sectors of which 1,365 sectors are located in secure areas, 622 in so-called grey areas, and 453 in black areas.

He said the policy was aimed at providing security for foreign observers permitted to enter Aceh, which has been under martial law since May 19, 2003, while simultaneously launching a massive military offensive to crush the 27-year-long rebellion by the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).

The European Union Election Observation Mission, which will mobilize 227 election monitors at the height of the polling activities next month, has yet to receive official permission to travel to Aceh or Papua provinces, said E.U.E.O.M. spokesperson Sarah Fradgley.

"If we're not allowed to go to Aceh, if the permits don't come through, that would be noted in our preliminary statement," said Fradgley.