Indonesian rebels formally disband

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia – Indonesia’s Aceh rebels formally disbanded their armed wing today in a major step toward ending one of Asia’s longest separatist conflicts.

Peace efforts gained momentum after Aceh province was devastated by the massive earthquake and tsunami on Dec. 26, 2004, killing more than 131,000 people in the province and leaving half a million others homeless.

The announcement came shortly after rebel representatives met with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh province.

“The Acehnese national army, or the armed wing of the Free Aceh Movement, has demobilized and disbanded,” Sofyan Daud, a former rebel commander, told reporters. “The Aceh national army is now part of civil society, and will work to make the peace deal a success.”