The Indonesian military has increased security control over the tsunami-ravaged province of Aceh by deploying more troops and imposing travel restrictions on foreign aid workers.

Since the Dec. 26 tsunami battered the restive province, where the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) has fought for independence for nearly four decades, foreign relief teams and assistance have poured in. Troops from the United States, Japan, Australia and Singapore also rushed to help with helicopters and transport planes.

The Indonesian government has recently called for more security measures, warning of possible attack of some "irresponsible groups." The GAM denied any such intention and said they were seeking to reach a permanent cease-fire with the government.

On Wednesday, the Indonesian government demanded thousands of foreign aid workers in Aceh register with the government and travel with Indonesian military escorts when going out of Banda Aceh, the capital city, for fear of rebel attacks, even though a cease-fire has been declared.

The government said the restrictions were aimed at protecting foreigners and achieving smooth coordination among various relief teams from Indonesia and other countries.

Meanwhile, Indonesia's Defense Ministry said another 7,000-8,000 troops are being sent to Aceh to help with the aid efforts, bringing its total forces there to about 50,000.

The military said the new troops will focus their work on handling corpses and scavenging in the rubble.

Local media reports said the decision to send in more troops was in concurrence with a government decision to demand the departure of foreign troops from Aceh by the end of March. The United Nations has asked the Indonesian government to reconsider the deadline.

"There will be many more weeks for a very substantive military presence," UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland said on Thursday.

"I hope that our Indonesian friends and colleagues will accept it is the needs of the population that will decide when military assets should be phased out completely," he added.

However, US Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz said on Friday in Bangkok that the US will withdraw its 15,000 troops from Indonesia as soon as feasible and had no problems with the deadline.

"We would like to be out of business as soon as we responsibly can," he said during his visit to the tsunami-hit countries.  

(Xinhua News Agency January 16, 2005)