The Indonesian government has expressed its willingness to sign a truce with the separatist group 'Free Aceh Movement' (GAM) at this week's peace talks in Switzerland. The two groups have met a number of times since 2000 but have not been able to reach an agreement that would stop the fighting that has killed thousands of people, most of them indigenous Acehnese. GAM is calling for an independent Aceh state on the northern tip of Sumatra. Indonesia has not offered a total withdrawal but has offered a plan that would give the Aceh representatives more control over internal affairs and revenues. GAM has not commented on whether it would sign a truce at the talks in Switzerland. More peace talks are scheduled to take place in Aceh.
