A human rights group has slammed the Indonesian government for continuing its military crackdown on separatist rebels in Aceh, which is hampering aid efforts to the more than 200,000 Tsunami survivors there.

Bangkok-based Forum Asia's Pompem Khongkachonkiat said media reports and witness accounts from the ground reveal that relief efforts are suffering a setback due to the military operations.

"This means that the outpouring of aid has been unable to reach the more than 200,000 affected inhabitants of Banda Aceh and other areas in the North Sumatra province," she said in a press statement

Pompen, who is Forum Asia's acting coordinator for the Aceh Programme, said the Indonesian military is still diverting its resources and energy from the relief efforts by refusing a cease-fire offer from the Gerakan Aceh Merdeka (GAM) separatist movement after the tidal waves struck on Dec 26.

"Reports of cross-fire have been verified in North and East Aceh. Such offences by the Indonesian military in the immediate aftermath of this catastrophe is both atrocious and inhumane," she added.

She said the military operations are causing delays in the distribution of essential aid to those affected by the Tsunami.

"The delay in the distribution of clean water, medicine, clothes, shelter, and medical personnel, has caused the death toll to mount," she added.

In view of this, Forum Asia called for an agreement to the cease-fire in order for humanitarian aid to reach those in dire need for it.

On a brighter note, Pompen said civil society groups are now allowed to deliver relief goods to the survivors.

"Initially, NGOs or other civil society groups were not allowed to participate in the distribution of aid to survivors and the families of victims. But now they are allowed to help, so the situation is much better," she added when contacted later.

Online petition

In a related development, an online petition dubbed 'Selamatkan Rakyat Aceh' (Safe the Acehnese People) called on Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to halt the military's 'operations, corruption, intimidation and pillaging'.

"Tens of thousands have died in Aceh as a result of the earthquake and tsunami. Please do not add to this death toll. Please do not inflict more suffering on the people of Aceh," it read.

The Australian daily reported yesterday that the Indonesian military is continuing to wage war on the separatist rebels in the hills of Aceh.

The report said the rebels claimed that the Indonesian military has moved more troops into rebel-held territory under the guise of relief operations since the tsunami struck 10 days ago.

They also alleged that squads of soldiers are preventing the hillside villagers from going to help their relatives along the coast.

Yesterday, the Kuala Lumpur-based aid organisation AltAid Aceh-Tsunami claimed that corruption among the Indonesian military is hampering aid efforts.