Tribunal Convicts 25 for Massacre in Aceh

A human rights tribunal today convicted 24 Indonesian soldiers and one civilian of massacring 57 villagers during an anti-rebel operation last year in Aceh. Defendants were sentenced to terms ranging from eight to 10 years. The rulings by a joint civilian-military tribunal came after prosecutors dropped demands for the death penalty. The Indonesian army has been waging a war against separatist rebels in Aceh for the past 25 years, but last week the government and rebels agreed to start the first cease-fire in the conflict. The rebels, however, have said they will not drop their demand for independence for the northwestern province, which is on the tip of Sumatra Island.