Officials get first hand look at Aceh

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia (CNN) -- ­ A team of Indonesian ministers and high-ranking military officials have visited the strife-torn Aceh in another bid to resolve the conflict in the restive province.

Wednesday's whirlwind one-day visit, led by top security minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, was part of a review of government policy on Aceh, as well a precursor to President Megawati Sukarnoputri's trip next month.

The visit was dismissed as "tourism" by separatist rebels demanding independence for Aceh. Armed conflicts between the Indonesian security forces and the Free Aceh Movement have flared since the 1980s and escalated in the recent years.

Over 1,000 people died in this year alone; most of them are believed to be civilians.

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Upon arrival at the governor's compound home in the provincial capital Banda Aceh, Minister Susilo said: "To stop separatism and bring back our brothers who want to break away from us is something we must do."

Despite apologizing for atrocities committed by the Indonesian army in Aceh, President Megawati Sukarnoputri has said she would never allow the province to secede.

The ministers and high officials -- including the head of the national intelligence body, national police chief, defense minister, justice minister and others -- held a closed-door meeting with local leaders, officials and legislators at the governor's compound.

Security was tight in Banda Aceh and its surrounding area, with 1,000 security personnel were deployed.

Hot spot

The officials arrived in the provincial capital Banda Aceh amid tight security before flying on to Lhokseumawe, home to a large petrochemical complex run by U.S. oil giant Exxon-Mobil.

The natural gas refinery, whose LNG exports are valued at $1.5 billion a year, suspended operations for four months this year because of escalating combat in the region.

Plans for the ministers to travel along the province's main highway to Lhokseumawe were dropped without explanation.

Separatist leaders dismissed Wednesday's trip as little more than a public-relations stunt.

Rebel spokesman Sofyan Daud described the ministers, who do not plan to meet with any pro-independence leaders, as "tourists."

"No one here wishes a visit from Indonesian officials, which will make no difference in the Aceh people's demand (for independence)," Sofyan said.

Rebels in the province, 1,750 kilometers (1,100 miles) northwest of Jakarta, have rejected an offer of greater autonomy by the central government.

Investigate massacres

More than 1,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed since government forces launched an offensive earlier this year aimed at destroying the rebellion.

Last week, security forces unearthed 48 bodies from the biggest mass grave found so far in the region.

On August 9, 31 plantation workers were massacred by unidentified gunmen.

The government and rebels have accused each other for the killings.

The authorities have refused a demand by the separatists for international observers to investigate massacres and rights abuses in the province, saying that a police investigation would determine who was responsible.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.