In the provincial capital Banda Aceh, IMP head Pieter Feith held his first round of talks with representatives from the Indonesian government and GAM to discuss security issues. "I can report to you the atmosphere of the first meeting was excellent. Both parties expressed full commitment to the implementation of the memorandum of understanding." he said.

Justice Minister Hamid Awaluddin meanwhile said more than 90% of nearly 1,500 rebels detained on political charges would be eligible for an amnesty to be announced later this month. "I stress that those affected by the amnesty are political activists who had been sentenced for subversion or

faced subversion charges," he told reporters. The number of people jailed for subversion is 90% larger than for criminal offences. A total of 1,472 GAM prisoners were currently in jail.

Some 450 other rebels were freed last week to mark Indonesia's independence day. The government will explain the amnesty, which must be implemented by August 31 st, to a parliamentary commission on Wednesday. The commission will then report to parliament, which cannot block the amnesties but must be consulted. Both sides have been cautiously optimistic that the agreement will open the way to lasting peace, a hope lent renewed urgency after the December 26 tsunami which killed at least 131,000 people in Aceh.

Note: Finally, a positive result the tsunami produced. But at what a price!