Laurie Spurr, Torre Pellice, Italy, July 14 (ENI) - The World Alliance of Reformed Churches has urged the president of Indonesia to cease military operations in Aceh and to restart negotiations with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), which has been fighting for independence for the western province.

In a letter to Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri, the Warc executive committee on Monday said it "strongly urges that the military operations of the Indonesian military forces cease immediately". The letter was signed by Dr Choan-Seng Song, president of Warc, and the Rev Setri Nyomi, general secretary of the alliance.

The executive committee, one of Warc's governing bodies, is meeting in Torre Pellice until July 15.

Megawati's government imposed martial law in Aceh in May and started military operations against the GAM separatists after peace negotiations between the government and the rebels broke down.

"The imposition of martial law in Aceh threatens the life of women, men and children of Aceh," the Warc letter said.

More than 10,000 people - many of them civilians - have died in the battle for independence launched more than 25 years ago in the province of Aceh on the island of Sumatra.

Warc has 27 member denominations in Indonesia, including a church in North Sumatra. The Reformed alliance was urged to respond to the crisis by leaders of the Communion of Churches in Indonesia, the letter to Megawati stated.

The population of Indonesia, a southeastern Asian archipelago, located between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, is 88% Muslim and 8% Christian. The rest of the people are Hindus, Buddhists and of other religions.

In 2002, Warc held a series of team visits to trouble spots in Indonesia and an interfaith consultation in Jakarta, the capital, with strong Muslim participation. [308 words]

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