JAKARTA, 12 May 2005 - The Indonesian government will return its tsunami-hit Aceh province to civilian rule after the current state of emergency expires next week, officials said on Thursday. Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Widodo A. S. said the emergency, imposed two years ago in an attempt to clamp down on a growing separatist movement, would not be renewed.

"From our evaluation, the government wishes to later end the state of civilian emergency and return to normal civilian order so that this situation can support (tsunami) rehabilitation and reconstruction," Widodo said after a Cabinet meeting as quoted by Reuters. He said that military anti-insurgency operations would continue despite a unilateral truce declared by the rebels after the Dec. 26 tsunami that devastated the region of 4.1 million people.

"Security operations will still continue to safeguard the reconstruction and rehabilitation process from (rebel) disturbances," Widodo was quoted by AFP as saying.

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