A spokesman for Indonesian rebels in the embattled Banda Aceh region refuted government claims foreign aid workers are at risk, the New York Times reports. Speaking to a Times reporter in a jungle clearing, a man known only as Mucksalmina said foreigners had nothing to fear from the Free Aceh Movement and the group’s top leadership had issued orders not to harm any aid workers. He said the group was thankful for the tsunami help to Aceh from foreigners, including the United States. “I am very grateful and thank the Americans and the rest of the world that when they saw this disaster they worked directly to help,” he said. The group has been fighting the Indonesian government for independence for 30 years. “The Indonesian government just wants people out of Aceh as soon as possible so they can reassert control,” Mucksalmina said. The region is rich in minerals and natural gas, and one of the separatists’ grievances has been the province does not receive a fair share of revenues from the central government. © Copyright 2005 by United Press International

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