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Decision on Aceh operation start soon

12 May 2003, JAKARTA - Indonesia has decided to carry out military operations in Aceh province, with the president to decide when to start the operations in a few days, a senior minister said on Monday. "The President has taken the decision that integrated operations will be carried out," chief security minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono told reporters on the day Jakarta had set as a deadline for Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels in the province to agree to talks and other conditions.
"Up to now, what has been stated by GAM, officially or unofficially, did not answer what the Indonesian government wanted," Yudhoyono said. "In the next several days, President (Megawati Sukarnoputri) will take the official decision in a Presidential decree marking the start of integrated operations."