QUAKES SPARK PANIC; JAPANESE WARSHIPS ARRIVE

by Kaspel, Monday, January 24, 2005, 10:47

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia (Reuters) - Fresh earthquakes in Asia Monday rattled traumatized survivors of last month's killer tsunami, while Indonesia and rebels in Aceh agreed to hold talks, seeking to turn the calamity into a chance for peace.

Japanese warships anchored off the coast of Aceh Monday, the last of the foreign military relief missions to arrive, even as civilians groups began taking control of the unprecedented aid effort.

Almost a month after the tsunami killed as many as 234,000 people across the Indian Ocean, a strong earthquake hit Indonesia's eastern Sulawesi island, killing one person, and a tremor rattled the provincial capital Banda Aceh, sending frightened tsunami survivors running into the streets.

Another quake, measuring 6.5, was recorded west of Great Nicobar island in India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which were badly hit by the Dec. 26 tsunami, but there were no reports of casualties or damage.

The talks between the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) -- locked in a conflict that has killed more than 12,000 people in the last three decades -- were expected to take place in Helsinki this week, mediated by former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono reiterated an offer of "special autonomy" for the Acehnese and amnesty for GAM members willing to lay down their guns.

The rebels want independence or at least a referendum on self-determination, like the former Indonesian territory of East Timor (news - web sites) was given. Aceh is under a civil emergency, following a year of martial law.

Concerns about clashes between the Indonesian army and the rebels have stalked tsunami relief efforts in Aceh.