AFP, October 21, 2003

BANDA ACEH: Amni bin Ahmad Marzuki, another former rebel peace negotiators in Aceh province, was sentenced by local court to 12 years in jail for "as an auxiliary" in treason and terrorism.

As he was whisked out of the court, Marzuki raised his fist and shouted:

"Let's keep fighting for peace in Aceh."

Judges were due to pass a verdict on a third negotiator, Sofyan Ibrahim Tiba, later in the day.

Defence lawyers and the negotiators say the charges are trumped up.

The rebel negotiators were arrested on their way to the airport to join the peace talks in Tokyo, sparking a strong US protest. Aceh police freed them as the Tokyo talks began but rearrested them when those negotiations broke down.