Associated Press
October 21, 2003

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (AP): A court here on Tuesday handed a 13-year prison term to a negotiator for the separatist rebels of Aceh after convicting him of treason and planning acts of arson, murder and bombings.

Teungku Muhamad Lampo Awe took part in internationally mediated peace talks in Aceh that led to a temporary cease-fire in the province. But he was arrested along with four other rebel representatives shortly after further peace talks collapsed, with Jakarta abandoning the truce on May 19 and launching a massive military offensive.

Judge Syaiful Azwir told the Banda Aceh District Court that Awe had violated anti-terrorism laws by planning acts of arson, murder and bombings.

"The defendant was guilty of treason through these actions," said Azwir. "He knew of the rebels' actions in the field," he said.

Awe's lawyer Adnan Buyung Nasution said he would appeal the verdict.

"It was never proven during the trial that the defendant had undermined the government," Nasution said. "He was just a negotiator."

Three other rebel negotiators who took part in talks leading to the cease-fire were scheduled to be sentenced later Tuesday.

Earlier, the same court sentenced female activist Cut Nur Asikin, who has campaigned for an independence referendum, to 11 years in jail for treason.