Related links: Aceh

Population: 4.2 million, 2 per cent of Indonesia's total population of 210 million

Capital: Banda Aceh, 1700km northwest of Jakarta

Economy: Mining, fossil fuels, timber, coffee, rubber

Indonesian forces in Aceh province:

General Endriartono Suharto

34,175 soldiers, including 6350 on naval vessels

Around 12,500 police

23 naval vessels

OV-10 Bronco attack planes

Tanks

Amphibious vehicles and bigger artillery pieces

Most troops carry automatic weapons such as M-16s

Aceh rebels:

Mahmood Malik, GAM leader

Around 5000 fighters using automatic weapons such as M-16s and AK-47s, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades

History:

700: Islam enters Indonesian archipelago through Aceh

804: First Islamic kingdom established in what is now Aceh

1641: Death of Sultan Iskandar Thani signals decline of Aceh and start of Dutch and British efforts to dominate region

1824: London Treaty. British grant Dutch control of Sumatra in exchange for surrendering

1873: Dutch invade Aceh. Achenese resistance sparks Aceh War which lasts until 1942.

1942: Japan invades Dutch East Indies (Indonesia). Dutch surrender

1949: UN-brokered Round Table Conference. Transfer of territory from Dutch East Indies to fully independent Indonesia. Aceh is included in the agreements dispite not being formally part of the Dutch East Indies

1959: Indonesia gives Aceh "special territory" status, conferring a high degree of religious, educational and cultural autonomy

1976: Free Aceh Movement (GAM) armed resistance group founded, to fight for an independent Islamic state

2002 Dec 9: Peace agreement signed between the GAM and Indonesia.

2003 May 19: Peace agreement breaks down. Indonesia invades Aceh.

Websites:

Centre for Defence Information (US) - Aceh page

US Pacific Command - Virtual Information Centre:
Aceh Primer (includes link to 70-page Word file)

Free Aceh Movement in Europe (FAME)

Tapol Indonesian Human Rights Campaign

Human Rights Watch - Aceh page