Indonesia, May 20: Indonesia's military dropped more paratroopers today in Aceh in an assault against separatist guerrillas who defied demands to disarm, while officials in Washington and other capitals urged Jakarta to restart autonomy talks with the rebels. Five rebels were killed and seven others captured yesterday on during the first day of the assault, Lt Col Achmad Yani Basuki said today.

Indonesia has sent more than 1,000 elite troops to the northwestern province, firing rockets and landing marines in what is expected to be Indonesia's biggest military operation since it invaded East Timor in 1975.

There were no immediate reports of fighting today, but villagers close to the northern town of Bireun found the corpse of a 60-year-old local councillor who local police said had been shot by the rebels.
Bireun Police Maj Laksa Widiana said rebels in the area were burning buildings- mostly schools. At least 20 schools were burned yesterday. >
“Those captured rebels have revealed that (the rebel group) has a plan to burn down school buildings, especially those located around military posts, in order to discredit the military,'' said Basuki.
Maj Gen Endang Suwarya, the military chief in Aceh, said that a battalion of soldiers was being dropped close to southern town of Takengon, a known rebel stronghold.

The United States, Japan, Australia and members of the European Union said that talks aimed at securing a deal for Aceh's regional autonomy should have been given more time to succeed.

Bureau Report