Banda Aceh – There were few signs of joy in Indonesia's rebellious Aceh province on Friday, a day after Jakarta decided to end military rule there but continue operations against separatist rebels.

Residents of Banda Aceh, the provincial capital, had mixed feelings about the move, saying the top priority should remain security while expressing concern about the continued heavy military presence.

"What Acehnese need right now is security. What's the use of an operation if people don't feel secure," said Ramadhan, who sells cooking pots in the city's central market. "For little people like us, if it's secure then that is enough," he said.

Jakarta imposed martial law on Aceh, at the northern tip of the island of Sumatra, after talks with the rebellious Free Aceh Movement (GAM) collapsed in May 2003. Martial law was twinned with the beginning of an all-out military offensive against the separatists.

But the swift victory some in the military expected was not forthcoming, and martial law, initially imposed for six months, was extended for another half-year in November.

The current term ends on May 19 and Jakarta has decided to return the province to civilian rule, citing progress in subduing the rebels. Jakarta says it has killed and captured thousands of rebels. Accurate figures are hard to come by due to restrictions on media and non-government groups operating in the region.

Under martial law, the top leader has been an army general, while civil emergency – the status Aceh will get after President Megawati Sukarnoputri signs a decree next week – means the territory will be ruled by a civilian governor. In both cases, the administration can order curfews and house searches.

Analysts and residents have said the military has largely succeeded in imposing order on much of the province, especially in Banda Aceh. "We currently feel that Aceh is secure. We can go out at night. What we want now is no more gunfire to be heard," said 39-year old housewife Fauziah.

But some people have doubts about the civilian government which has come under fire due to graft allegations. "Don't let the elites fight because of the change of status and don't stop the investigation into graft. They should have also changed the governor," said Hamdani, a university dropout who now operates a pedicab to make ends meet.

Governor Abdullah Puteh has been under fire since his name was linked to an energy scandal in the province. Puteh denies suggestions of corruption.

Limited autonomy

GAM says Aceh should be independent from Indonesia and get the full benefit of such resources as natural gas, but Jakarta say it is an integral part of the country and a limited autonomy package is the best it can offer. In Jakarta, the favourite in Indonesia's coming presidential race and the former security minister who drew up the security policies in Aceh, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, supported the shift of power back to the civilian authority.

"But the government needs to seriously run the non-security programmes like economic and social rehabilitation. This will decide whether conditions can go back to normal," the ex-general told reporters.

The military operation is one part of several wide-ranging government projects to rehabilitate Aceh. However, critics say other programmes have taken back a back seat to the military offensive, which has burdened the state budget.