Indonesia has decided to lift military rule in Aceh, just under a year since martial law was imposed. On the first anniversary next Wednesday, civilian authorities will take charge but they'll have the power to order press censorship, curfews and other restrictions.

Presenter/Interviewer: James Panichi

Speakers: Baktiar Abdullah, Free Aceh Movement spokesman; Martin Unternahrer, ICRC Jakarta spokesman; Zumrotin, Indonesian National Commission on Human Rights; Lucia Withers, Amnesty International.

Panichi: This week, the military told the government it was satisfied with the outcome of operations against GAM over the past year. Major roads have been secured and most urban areas have returned to normal, although rebels remain active in jungle bases. And in another surprising move, Indonesian Defence Force commander, General Endriartono Sutarto, was reported as admitting the military in Aceh had committed human rights violations. He went on to say that he welcomes government plans for the Indonesian National Commission on Human Rights to investigate alleged cases of abuse. The commission's chief investigator in Aceh, Zumrotin, says the general's position is a positive sign.

Zumrotin: Two days ago I was in Aceh, and in that time I think it was a more comprehensive situation. People are back working in their jobs and are useful. I think the situation is better. But one important thing: when the government changes the situation, the government has to make economic programs. Because in that time, the situation in the community, in that area, is a very poor situation. So if the government doesn't have a program for involving communities, I'm worried that the government won't be successful.

Panichi: However, Ms Zumrotin also says that while the military may allow the Commission to investigate, any inquiry is only as strong as the political support it attracts. She says that a recent Commission report on Aceh was largely overlooked by the government, which told it the findings would have to be weighed up against Indonesia's military requirements. And that's why human rights watchdog Amnesty International remains cautious about the downgrading of martial law. Lucia Withers is an Indonesia researcher in Amnesty's London office.

Withers: I think it's a question of waiting and seeing what happens. The government has announced that it is downgrading martial law to civil emergency. But they have also said at the same time that they're not withdrawing troops and it's the troops that are the problem in Aceh. It is them committing the human rights violations. So, if you still have a very high number of soldiers there, who are pretty unaccountable for their actions, I think we're still going to see, in all likelihood, the same number of killings and torture and other human rights violations.

Panichi: Although in recent weeks there has been some admission on the part of the Indonesian military that human rights violations have in fact taken place in Aceh. Does that amount to a positive step for human rights in the region?

Withers: I think it does in terms of the fact that the military is acknowledging that there are problems and has taken some steps to address them by investigating a few cases and bringing soldiers to military tribunals. But we think this falls far far short of what is actually required. The highest sentence so far handed down in those military tribunals is three and a half years for the rape of four women. It suggests that this might not be being taken as seriously as we think.

Panichi: That's an opinion shared by Baktiar Abdullah, a GAM leader who fled Aceh and is now living in Sweden.

Abdullah: There is no change at all. It's just changing the name from martial law to civil emergency ... In the field, and in actual fact, it's just one and the same thing.

Panichi: In a move suggesting peace may now be a step closer in Aceh, this week the province's secessionist rebels announced they were ready to release 250 civilian hostages. Most of them had been detained last year by the Free Aceh Movement, or GAM, in what rebels describe as a "security operation" targetting Indonesian spies. It's welcome news for the International Committee of the Red Cross, which has been attempting to secure the hostages' release since January. Martin Unternahrer is the ICRC's Jakarta spokesman.

Unternahrer: We have been over the last days involved in an exchange of information between the parties and we are rather optimistic. We are right now in the process of determining the exact procedures of the handing over of people to the Red Cross and we hope that something might be able to take place.

Panichi: And that means the hostages – among them Indonesian cameramen Ferry Santoro – could be home within days.

Unternahrer: There is a relatively good indication that over the weekend something should be happening.

Panichi: Although GAM militants say there's no direct link between the hostage release and the security downgrading in the province.