Hundreds of Indonesian troops parachuted into Aceh on Monday and a plane fired rockets at suspected separatist rebel positions as the military went on the attack following the collapse of peace talks in Tokyo.
Some 468 members of a rapid reaction strike force parachuted from six Hercules aircaft to join about 28 000 troops already in the province, said Firdaus Komarno, a military spokesperson.
He said an OV-10 Bronco aircraft fired rockets at suspected rebel positions as part of normal operating procedure but the landing was unopposed.
President Megawati Sukarnoputri gave the go-ahead for the attack and signed a decree imposing martial law in Aceh just hours after the peace talks in Tokyo with the Free Aceh Movement (Gam) broke down late on Sunday.
The troops landed near the airport in Aceh Besar district, 12km outside Banda Aceh, witnesses said.
Military authorities have been preparing for weeks for an attack and fighter planes, warships and thousands of troops have been readied.
Military chief General Endriartono Sutarto, who arrived in Banda Aceh Monday, said the army could ”suppress the power of Gam to a minimum” within six months.
The martial law decree will last for six months but may be extended.
Sutarto was quoted by Detikcom online news service as saying the military might impose a curfew in several districts.
The army has not said how many more extra troops will be brought in for what is expected to be one of Indonesia’s largest ever military operations.
But Social Affairs Minister Bachtiar Chamsyah said some 100 000 people are expected to flee their homes compared to 10 000 displaced currently. The government has designated refugee shelters. Komarno could not say when a major attack would be launched.
”What is clear is we have shifted from the defensive to the offensive. That means we can carry out searches, patrols and attacks.”
Top security Minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said early on Monday that Gam’s refusal to end its 27-year struggle for independence prompted the operation.
”It is very clear there is no willingness from Gam to accept the Unitary State of Indonesia as the framework for a peaceful solution in Aceh,” he said.
While the talks were under way in Tokyo, the minister had announced that Gam must accept the special autonomy also granted to Aceh, and drop demands for independence, and start disarming.
An estimated 10 000 people, most of them civilians, have been killed in the conflict since 1976. The latest peace pact had lasted only since December 9.
Swiss-based mediators, the Henry Dunant Centre, backed by the United States (US), the European Union and Japan, had called the meeting in a final attempt to avert war.
Gam military spokesperson Sofyan Dawood said the rebels would use guerrilla tactics ”and the place and time of the fighting will be chosen by Gam”.
Dawood called for a general strike from Monday in the province and urged industries like the US-owned ExxonMobil and the Arun natural gas plant to shut down.
”We don’t want to attack vital projects but if the military or police who guard the projects make a sweeping [search for rebels], we will attack military or police there.”
Hundreds of troops guard the ExxonMobil operation.
Energy Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said security has been increased at ExxonMobil.
”The government guarantees that production will not stop.”
Gam said a general strike would go into force ”as soon as the Indonesian colonial government announces its military operation”.
But the call appeared to have been largely ignored in Banda Aceh, with stores and schools still open and public transport running.
Paramilitary Brimob forces and soldiers were patrolling in greater strength in Banda Aceh, Lhokseumawe and other towns. – Sapa-AFP